Texas Officials to Consider Eliminating FEMA Amid Flooding Crisis

Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised President Trump for approving a disaster declaration for Kerr County, which unlocked federal funds for response efforts. However, the Trump administration has proposed eliminating FEMA, which provides billions of dollars in disaster assistance to communities. Abbott and Texas's top emergency official are on a council tasked with recommending changes to FEMA. The council will consider how to reshape or dissolve the agency as Texas responds to catastrophic floods.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has praised President Trump for approving a disaster declaration for Kerr County, which unlocked federal funds for response efforts. The approval came as the Trump administration has proposed eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which provides billions of dollars in disaster assistance to communities [1].

Abbott and Texas's top emergency official are on a council tasked with recommending changes to FEMA. The council will consider how to reshape or dissolve the agency as Texas responds to catastrophic floods [1].

The rapid federal response to the Texas floods underscores the challenges Trump faces in replacing FEMA. While Trump has proposed a model of disaster response that shifts more responsibilities to the state level, the current response highlights the importance of FEMA's role in coordinating resources and providing assistance [1].

FEMA's primary roles in Texas include coordinating resources from other federal agencies, arranging first-responder support, and administering the National Flood Insurance Program. The agency also provides Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs to support survivors and local governments [1].

Experts argue that even the most capable states need support from FEMA, and eliminating the agency could leave significant gaps in recovery efforts. Texas, for instance, relies on federal grants for its emergency management budget [1].

The future of federal disaster response remains uncertain. The 12-member review council established by Trump will meet for the second time on Wednesday, with Abbott and Texas's top emergency official participating. While no large reforms have been enacted yet, smaller policy changes could impact Texas' recovery [1].

References:
[1] https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas/articles/2025-07-09/texas-flooding-and-politics-around-it-underscore-the-challenges-trump-faces-in-replacing-fema