Reductions in FEMA and other agencies' funding could result in delayed disaster relief, as per the comments of a former administrator.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is bracing for the upcoming hurricane season, but staffing shortages could pose a significant challenge.

Since President Trump took office, FEMA has lost approximately one-third of its permanent workforce, and the reduction in government workforces has continued under the Trump administration. This has resulted in a depletion of leadership and staff in the regions, as well as a loss of institutional knowledge.

Deanne Criswell, the former head of federal disaster response, warns that agencies will be ill-equipped for back-to-back crises. Criswell is most concerned about the loss of leadership and staff in the regions, as well as the loss of institutional knowledge.

To compensate for the staffing shortage, FEMA has turned to other government agencies. During emergencies, FEMA uses the staff from IRS call centers to help staff their own call centers for disaster victims. However, the Internal Revenue Service has lost approximately 26,000 employees since Trump took office, including nearly 22% of those in Taxpayer Services. This could lead to increased wait times for FEMA's call centers.

NOAA, another critical partner for FEMA, states, and local emergency responders, has also experienced staffing reductions. NOAA has fired hundreds of employees in their probationary status and pushed out hundreds more through various incentives. This could limit NOAA's ability to embed directly with jurisdictions to help them understand potential impacts.

States might not have the necessary resources to respond to emergencies if FEMA's responsibilities are spread out among them. FEMA regularly collaborates with NOAA to stay updated on forecasts and prepare for response efforts.

If FEMA were to be shut down, its responsibilities would likely be spread out among other agencies, potentially leading to inefficiencies. Toward the end of Deanne Criswell's term, FEMA reported making headway in its recruiting efforts. However, the current acting FEMA leader, David Richardson, is a Trump appointee without prior disaster response experience.

President Trump and Homeland Security Department Secretary Kristi Noem have suggested the plan to shut down FEMA entirely, but no specific plan has been outlined. Regardless, the staffing challenges faced by FEMA are a cause for concern as the hurricane season begins.