House Homeland Security subcommittee examines FEMA’s expanding role, recent staff cuts and frozen grants

The House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology convened a hearing to review the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s mission, staffing and grant administration, chair and witnesses said.

Chairman Strong said the hearing’s purpose was “to assess the current role of FEMA, including FEMA’s expanding mission set, FEMA stewardship of taxpayer dollars and its coordination with the state and local governments in disaster recovery response.” He and several panelists pointed to recent disasters and administrative changes as the impetus for a comprehensive review.

Why it matters: FEMA coordinates federal disaster assistance, administers preparedness and mitigation grants, and supports state and local recovery. Witnesses and members warned that staffing departures and paused grant funding could slow recovery work, stretch remaining personnel and reduce preparedness capacity ahead of future disasters.

State and local perspective Jeff Smitherman, director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, told the subcommittee that “disaster preparedness, response and recovery for all incidents start and end at the local level” and urged the review council to include a state emergency management director. Smitherman said Alabama has tested a state-managed disaster pilot and argued that,…