President Donald Trump on Friday said he is considering “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“FEMA has been a very big disappointment,” the Republican president said while on a first trip in North Carolina, which is reeling from Hurricane Helene. “It’s very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow. Other than that, we’re very happy with them.”
The agency helps respond to disasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, a signal that the damage is beyond the state’s ability to handle on its own. FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts, such as debris removal, and it gives stopgap financial assistance to individual residents.