• The nation's disaster response agency has been hit by staffing cuts and leadership changes.
• The new acting chief, David Richardson, told staffers FEMA is ready for hurricane season.
• Several employees told BI that morale is low, as evidenced by some of the reactions to Richardson's town hall.

A week into his appointment, FEMA's new acting chief, David Richardson, held his first town hall for the agency's employees.

His May 15 remarks outlined a planned overhaul of the nation's disaster response operations dubbed "FEMA 2.0," tried to reassure staff that the agency is "to a great degree ready" for the 2025 "disaster season," and made clear he plans to carry out President Donald Trump's agenda.

His speech and answers to employee questions also included several folksy talking points: He used fruits as an example to describe how the agency's responsibilities are structured, made reference to his girlfriend's big red hair, and said he hadn't realized how big Texas is.

If his presentation, which was livestreamed and played on televisions at the embattled agency's headquarters, was meant to improve morale and boost confidence among the rank and file, it may have fallen short.

Two veteran staffers told Business Insider that they saw at least a dozen employees openly mocking Richardson — laughing while he was talking, jeering at the screen, and later circulating memes about him.

Like other federal employees, FEMA workers have been rattled by the Trump administration's staff cutbacks. Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have called for the agency's eventual elimination.

At the beginning of May, FEMA's acting administrator, Cameron Hamilton, lost his job after telling Congress that he thought the agency should continue. His departure paved the way for Richardson to bounce over from Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to run the agency.

An emergency agency in flux

These big changes come during a critical period for FEMA. Tornadoes in Kentucky and Missouri left 28 people dead last week. Hurricane season on the Atlantic coast, a six-month sprint of emergencies for the agency, begins in June.

Several FEMA employees who are tasked with helping states prepare for and respond to emergencies ranging from earthquakes to wildfires and beyond told Business Insider they're worried about whether they'll have the resources and support to provide life-saving aid to states when crisis strikes.

The agency is pushing back on criticism.

"Under Secretary Noem and Acting Administrator Richardson, FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens," a spokesperson for FEMA told Business Insider. "The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades."

Oranges, plantains, and fruit bowl memes

Richardson, a Marine veteran who attained the rank of lieutenant colonel, introduced himself to some of his staff a day after his appointment with bold words, saying he would not tolerate those who resist reforms — a group he estimated would be about 20% of employees based on his past experience.

"Obfuscation, delay, undermining. If you're one of those 20% of people and you think those tactics and techniques are going to help you, they will not, because I will run right over you," Richardson said at the May 9 meeting, according to Reuters. "Don't get in my way... I know all the tricks."

The town hall for all employees came almost a week later. According to a transcript based on leaked audio published by the independent news outlet Drop Site News, Richardson focused largely on conducting a "mission analysis" of FEMA's operations and aligning with Trump. (Two current FEMA staffers confirmed to Business Insider that the Drop Site News transcription of the meeting was accurate.)

In his introduction, before taking questions from staff, Richardson said that FEMA has between 150 and 175 statutorily obligated tasks to conduct, and each one of those specified tasks "can be binned into categories," he said.

"And by bin them, I mean some of those, some of those tasks will be kind of orange-like tasks — and by orange, I mean the fruit orange, but they might be tangerines, they might be blood oranges, it just might be maybe a little bit of grapefruit," Richardson said. "All those will go in one bin."

A FEMA staff member told Business Insider that some staffers watching the livestream began laughing during the remarks about fruit.

Shortly after the meeting concluded, a meme of Richardson's face, looking surprised, and with a basket of fruit on his head, began circulating among FEMA employees. The meme, shared with Business Insider by a staffer, was styled to look like the "Shrek 2" movie poster, with the title "FEMA 2" in green letters with ogre ears. Another meme seen by Business Insider, which was styled as a bingo card for people listening to Richardson's remarks, included a bowl of fruit as one of its spaces.

'Texas is huge!'

During the Q-and-A part of the session, a staff member asked about the plan for this hurricane season, whether the agency is appropriately staffed for emergency response, and the timeline for training staff to respond. Richardson said the agency is in a "transition period."

The process, he said, is "not going to look entirely different of how we did in 2024, but it's not necessarily going to look like how we're going to do it in 2026."

He added that FEMA would begin creating a road map for states to do the bulk of their own emergency response going forward, sharing as much as 50% of costs with the federal government.

A FEMA spokesperson declined to comment on what costs individual states would be responsible for in an emergency and what support the federal government could be expected to provide.

Richardson said he hoped to model future responses after states with good emergency preparedness, using Texas and Florida as examples.

"Some states are pretty good at this," Richardson said, referring to emergency response. "The other day I was chatting with my girlfriend — she's from Texas, she's got like, huge red hair, like she's from Texas."

He continued: "I said, how come it takes so long to drive 10 hours from Galveston to Amarillo? And she said, 'Well, you know, Texas is bigger than Spain.' I didn't know that. So I looked at the map. Texas is huge! I mean, if you put it in the middle of Europe, it takes up most of Europe up. However, they do disaster recovery very, very well, and so does Florida."

One FEMA employee told Business Insider that by the time Richardson mentioned his girlfriend, more than a dozen members of the livestream audience watching from their office had begun jeering loudly at the screen. Some staff members began walking around the office waving pencils in the air, referencing the way Richardson had fidgeted with a writing utensil while speaking, the employee said.

"I've never seen people so mocking of an agency head," the employee said.

It's unclear exactly how much of FEMA's staff has been cut since Trump took office; the most recent estimates from CNN put the total reduction of force at about 20% of FEMA's permanent full-time staff, or about 1,000 workers.

The US Government Accountability Office reported in 2023 that FEMA had an overall staffing gap of approximately 35%, equating to 6,200 employees, which had "affected its ability to achieve its mission."

A FEMA spokesperson told Business Insider that, "under Secretary Noem's leadership, and the efforts of Acting Administrator Richardson, FEMA is fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season."

The Trump administration has not made a public statement about a permanent nominee to lead FEMA.

The spokesperson added that "complaints about morale, training, and planning come from the same internal class that resisted accountability for decades. This is just another example of a long line of internal leaks from people who clearly couldn't care less about Americans facing disaster and prefer to manufacture petty drama for their own self-aggrandizement."

In the town hall meeting, Richardson said his plan for the agency is to follow "the president's intent," which he described as limiting FEMA's activities to its "mission essential tasks."

"Those of us still remaining were either too committed to go anywhere, not eligible to take the resignation options, or so committed to the mission we do not care what he does," one FEMA staff member said.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, said Monday that local communities are facing "devastation" and that the state will need Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding "at the least" after violent tornadoes took dozens of lives over the weekend. 

Hawley, who spoke to Fox News Digital on the phone while walking through Missouri neighborhoods ravaged by the storms, emphasized that "a lot of people are hurting."

"These aren't just pieces of real estate," Hawley explained. "I mean, these are homes that people grew up in. These are neighborhoods where families raise their kids going back two, three, four, generations. I talked to one guy who had been in the neighborhood. His family had been in the neighborhood since his great-grandmother came there at the turn of the last century."

"Unless they're going to need to be rebuilt, the federal government is going to need to play a big role here with FEMA relief, disaster relief, and we want to get all of that as soon as possible," he said.

53 MILLION BRACE FOR SEVERE STORMS MONDAY WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 80 MPH LIKELY

Fox Weather reported that the rating of the powerful storm was at least an EF-3, turning homes and businesses in its path into rubble.

At least 26 people were killed over the weekend across the region. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the death count in Kentucky alone sits at 19, and Hawley’s office said the count in Missouri was at least 7.

"We have lost 19 people to this weather event, each one a child of God who will be missed by their families," Beshear said in a post on X. "Please keep praying for them, the 10 individuals being treated at UK Hospital, and for everyone affected by these storms."

DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS CONTINUE IN KENTUCKY, MISSOURI IN WAKE OF DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK

Hawley's push for FEMA assistance comes as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has called for eliminating the agency as it exists today.

In addition to calling for federal assistance, Hawley was also quick to point out private insurance providers will need to step up and fairly pay out claims to assist with recovery efforts, noting he is separately "in the middle of an investigation of the major insurance companies."

"I talked to person after person today whose roofs have been ripped off, whose windows are bashed in," Hawley told Fox News Digital. "These people need to get their policies paid out. They've been faithful premium holders, faithful premium payers. They need the policies paid out. And that's something that's going to make a huge, huge difference."

FEMA TRUMP, LAWMAKERS AT ODDS OVER WHETHER FEMA SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO CABINET-LEVEL AGENCY OR COMPLETELY OVERHAULED

Recovering from the devastation could take some time in local communities, and it was reported that roughly 700,000 lost power across the region during the height of the storm.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

"I expect that our governor will soon make an emergency request for disaster relief, and we'd certainly hope that FEMA would act on that. ASAP," Hawley added.

While President Donald Trump wants to gut the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are seeking to elevate FEMA to a Cabinet-level agency. 

FEMA is currently housed under the Department of Homeland Security, but the House effort would solidify FEMA as its own separate agency, according to a discussion draft of the legislation released Thursday. 

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., and committee ranking member Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., are spearheading the legislation. 

Other proposals included in the draft legislation are instructing the Office of Management and Budget to create a centralized website tracking disaster assistance recovery across the federal government, and allowing FEMA to foot the bill for repairs to homes suffering damage in disasters. 

Currently, FEMA only covers expenses that make a home livable following disasters. 

‘FEMA IS NOT GOOD’: TRUMP ANNOUNCES AGENCY OVERHAUL DURING VISIT TO NORTH CAROLINA 

"By releasing this discussion draft legislation, we hope to engage our colleagues and stakeholders on comprehensive FEMA reform," Graves said in a Thursday statement. "This draft bill includes substantive changes that will transform FEMA and our emergency programs to be much more state and locally driven – not micro-managed into ineffectiveness by the federal government."

While Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have voiced support for eradicating FEMA, the former acting administrator of FEMA, Cameron Hamilton, warned against gutting the agency on Wednesday.

"I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton told lawmakers on the House Appropriations committee on Wednesday. 

"Having said that, I’m not in a position to make a decision," Hamilton said. "That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body."

However, Hamilton, who previously served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy with SEAL Team 8 and started leading FEMA in January, was ousted from his post Thursday. 

ACTING FEMA ADMINISTRATOR OUT AFTER PUSHING BACK AGAINST TRUMP'S AGENCY PLANS

FEMA confirmed to Fox News Digital Thursday that Hamilton was no longer with the agency. 

Days after his inauguration in January, Trump visited North Carolina to oversee the state's efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, more than 120 days after the storm struck the state. On the trip, Trump floated plans to gut FEMA, which oversaw the disaster relief efforts. 

"I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump told reporters in North Carolina. "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good."

The executive order established a review council to evaluate potential reforms to FEMA, including whether the agency’s bureaucracy restricts its ability to appropriately respond to disasters. Likewise, Trump’s budget proposal includes plans to slash nearly $650 million in FEMA grants. 

On Tuesday, Noem told lawmakers that Trump stands by his statements that FEMA’s current setup should be quashed. 

"He believes that FEMA and its response in many, many circumstances has failed the American people, and that FEMA as it exists today should be eliminated," Noem said. 

The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is no longer with the agency — just a day after telling lawmakers that cutting FEMA, as President Donald Trump has proposed, is a bad move. 

Cameron Hamilton, who previously served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy with SEAL Team 8, has led FEMA since January. 

"Effective today, David Richardson is now serving as the Senior Official Performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator," a FEMA spokesperson said in a Thursday email to Fox News Digital. "Cameron Hamilton is no longer serving in this capacity."

‘FEMA IS NOT GOOD’: TRUMP ANNOUNCES AGENCY OVERHAUL DURING VISIT TO NORTH CAROLINA 

Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar and Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski requested Hamilton appear at Homeland Security headquarters on Thursday morning and informed him of his ouster, Politico reported. 

While Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have voiced support for eradicating FEMA, Hamilton cautioned Wednesday against eliminating the agency. 

"I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton told lawmakers on the House Committee on Appropriations. 

Days after his inauguration in January, Trump visited North Carolina to oversee the state's efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, more than 120 days after the storm struck the state. On the trip, Trump floated plans to gut FEMA, which oversaw the disaster relief efforts. 

"I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump told reporters in North Carolina. "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good."

• In an email sent on Monday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem offered buyouts to agency employees.
• The department includes ICE, FEMA, the Secret Service, and other agencies.
• Her email said law enforcement officials are "exempt" from the offer.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem offered employees of one of the federal government's largest agencies a buyout on Monday evening, giving them a week to decide whether they wanted to leave the federal workforce.

The email — which resembles the "Fork in the Road" email sent to government employees — offers DHS employees the chance to take either a deferred resignation, early retirement, or a lump-sum buyout of up to $25,000.

DHS is one of the largest departments in the federal government, with about 250,000 employees. It encompasses Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Secret Service, the Coast Guard, and other agencies. Noem said in a televised cabinet meeting in March that she plans to "eliminate FEMA."

In her email, Noem said the buyout offer generally isn't being extended to law enforcement officials, which includes ICE agents.

"As a general rule, Law Enforcement Officials will be exempt from participation in these programs due to their essential mission-critical responsibilities," she wrote.

According to Noem's email, the lump sum policy would be considered severance pay.

It's not clear if the offer would follow the Office of Personnel Management's severance pay formula for federal employees. Representatives for DHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider about how many employees are impacted by the offer.

Employees have until April 14 to decide if they want to take the offer, which was meant to "reflect our commitment to aligning our workforce with evolving mission needs," Noem wrote in the email, which had the subject line "Reshaping of the DHS workforce."

Read Noem's DHS buyout email:

Reshaping of the DHS Workforce

Dear DHS Colleagues,

I am writing to share important news regarding new voluntary workforce transition programs approved for immediate implementation across the Department. These initiatives — collectively known as the Workforce Transition Program (WTP) —include the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP). Together, they reflect our commitment to aligning our workforce with evolving mission needs while supporting the personal and professional goals of our dedicated employees. Components will provide guidance for which of these three programs are available to their respective workforce, to include populations who are excluded from our mission critical frontline workforce. As a general rule, Law Enforcement Officials will be exempt from participation in these programs due to their essential mission-critical responsibilities.

1. Deferred Resignation Program (DRP)

This program offers eligible employees a structured and supported path to transition from DHS. Those who choose to participate will receive a brief period of paid administrative leave to complete key tasks, submit retirement documentation, and prepare for departure. Most transitions under this program are expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2025, though exact dates may vary depending on individual circumstances.

2. Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA)

Under 5 U.S.C. S§ 8336(d)(2) (CSRS) and 8414(b)(1)(B) (FERS), VERA allows eligible employees who meet certain age and service requirements to retire early. This option helps employees who are ready to retire while ensuring DHS can address evolving needs across our Components.

3. Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP)

Often referred to as a "buyout," this option offers a lump-sum payment of up to $25,000 (or an amount equal to severance pay if lower) for employees in roles slated for voluntary departures.

By offering these options, we intend to provide flexibility for employees who may be considering a change, retirement, or new career opportunities, while also supporting the Department's operational readiness. If you believe any or all of these programs might be right for you, please watch for further announcements from your Component leadership or Human Resources office, where you will find more specific eligibility criteria, detailed instructions, and timelines. Your decision to apply for any of these programs will be due NLT 11:59 ET on April 14, 2025.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the Department of Homeland Security and our nation's security. Your service and professionalism are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to your HR office or supervisor for additional guidance.

A Rhode Island federal judge targeted for impeachment dealt the Trump administration a legal blow on Friday, ordering it to lift a freeze on federal funds.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to unfreeze federal funds to states after plaintiffs alleged the agency had failed to comply with an earlier court order.

The lawsuit was originally launched by 22 states and the District of Columbia, challenging the Trump administration’s decision to block funding for programs like the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant and other environmental initiatives. 

LAWSUIT TRACKER: NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP'S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EOS

Plaintiffs in the suit, including the states of New York, California, Illinois and Rhode Island, argued that FEMA's implementation of a manual review process for payment requests violated a previous preliminary injunction issued by McConnell. The states argued that the review "constitutes 'a categorical pause or freeze of funding appropriate by Congress.'"

The defendants, which include President Donald Trump and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), responded that the review did not violate the order because "FEMA is relying on its own independent authorities to implement the process rather than the OMB Directive."

McConnell concluded that the plaintiffs had "presented evidence that strongly suggests that FEMA is implementing this manual review process based, covertly, on the President's January 20, 2025 executive order." 

COURTROOM COMBAT: INSIDE THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY SYSTEM WHERE TRUMP'S AGENDA IS UNDER ASSAULT

"The Court reaffirms its preliminary injunction order," McConnell wrote. 

McConnell had issued a restraining order in late January that enjoined the defendants from freezing federal funds. This came after OMB released a memo on Jan. 27 announcing the administration's plans to temporarily pause federal grants and loans. The White House later rescinded the memo on Jan. 29. 

However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the move didn’t equate a "recission of the federal funding freeze." 

‘CORRUPT, DANGEROUS’: GOP REP MOVES TO IMPEACH JUDGE WHO BLOCKED TRUMP FEDERAL FUNDS FREEZE

After McConnell ordered the administration to comply with the restraining order, the government appealed to the First Circuit — which refused to stay the orders. 

McConnell also recently made headlines after becoming one of several federal judges hit with impeachment articles. 

Georgia Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde formally introduced his articles of impeachment against McConnell on March 24, after his initial announcement in February. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The articles, first shared with Fox News Digital, charged McConnell with abuse of power and conflicts of interest, stating he "knowingly politicized and weaponized his judicial position to advance his own political views and beliefs."

"The American people overwhelmingly voted for President Trump in November, providing a clear mandate to make our federal government more efficient," Clyde told Fox News Digital. "Yet Judge McConnell, who stands to benefit from his own injunction, is attempting to unilaterally obstruct the president’s agenda and defy the will of the American people. Judge McConnell’s actions are corrupt, dangerous, and worthy of impeachment."

Fox News Digital's Diana Stancy contributed to this report.

• A judge ordered the Trump administration to stop freezing FEMA grants to states.
• The ruling followed a lawsuit 22 states and Washington, DC, brought against the administration.
• The judge found the administration was "covertly" violating a previous court order.

A Rhode Island federal judge on Friday once again ordered the Trump administration to stop its freeze of Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to states.

US District Judge John McConnell agreed with the Democratic attorneys general for 22 states and Washington, DC, who brought a lawsuit against the administration, and ruled the administration was in violation of a previous court order.

The AGs alleged that FEMA was still freezing funds to states in violation of the court's previous preliminary injunction, while the administration argued the agency was only implementing a "manual review process."

In the judge's 15-page order on Friday, he wrote that the states have presented evidence that "strongly suggests FEMA is implementing this manual review process based, covertly," on one of President Donald Trump's day-one executive orders that targeted sanctuary jurisdictions.

"The record makes clear that FEMA's manual review process imposes an indefinite pause on the disbursement of federal funds to the States, based on funding freezes dictated" in part by Trump's executive order, McConnell wrote in the order.

McConnell added that FEMA's manual review process violated the court's preliminary injunction order issued last month.

The judge ruled that the Trump administration "must immediately comply with the plain text" of his preliminary injunction order "not to pause or otherwise impede the disbursement of appropriated federal funds to the States."

McConnell also ordered FEMA to direct notice of his order and of the court's preliminary injunction order to FEMA's leadership and all agency staff who administer grants and other federal financial assistance.

"FEMA shall provide confirmation of these notices, including the names of recipients of the notice, no later than 48 hours after this Order," the judge wrote.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider.

Federal judges have already ruled against the Trump administration several times in the lawsuits brought against it since Trump was sworn in for a second term.

But legal experts told BI that judges have no real power to enforce their decisions.

"The president has much more force at his disposal than do the courts," Cornell Law School professor Michael Dorf previously told BI.

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order Monday that will put states and local jurisdictions in the driver's seat of preparing and responding to disasters, Fox News Digital learned. 

"This Order restores state, local, and individual empowerment in disaster preparedness and response, and injects common sense into infrastructure prioritization and strategic investments through risk-informed decisions that make our infrastructure, communities, and economy more resilient to global and dynamic threats and hazards," details on the order obtained by Fox News Digital show. 

The order emphasizes the role of states, localities and individual leadership over federal leadership while preparing for and coping with disasters — such as flooding or fires — and will "streamline" federal functions so local communities can more easily work with federal leaders in Washington, Fox News Digital learned. 

It also will establish the National Resilience Strategy, which will outline the "priorities, means, and ways to advance the resilience of the nation" while pinpointing risks to key national infrastructure and related systems, Fox Digital learned. 

TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER AIMED AT 'DRASTICALLY' IMPROVING FEMA EFFICACY, PRIORITIES, COMPETENCE

Officials will be called to review "all infrastructure, continuity, and preparedness and response policies" to ensure they fall in line with the National Resilience Strategy. 

The order will shift the federal government's "all-hazards" approach to handling disasters to a "risk-informed approach" that will prioritize "resilience and action over mere information sharing," Fox Digital learned. 

‘FEMA IS NOT GOOD:’ TRUMP ANNOUNCES AGENCY OVERHAUL DURING VISIT TO NORTH CAROLINA

Trump has railed against the nation's response to natural disasters under the Biden administration. He told Fox News' Sean Hannity just days after his inauguration that "FEMA has not done their job for the last four years" and he would like to see "states take care of their own problems" as they have historically relied on the federal government and its resources and funds to handle disasters. 

FEMA came under the nation's microscope in 2024 when Hurricane Helene ripped through North Carolina, devastating residents as it wiped out homes and businesses and killed more than 100 people. FEMA and the Biden administration faced fierce backlash for its handling of the emergency, while Trump accused the agency of obstructing relief efforts in Republican areas. 

TRUMP SAYS NEWSOM IS TO 'BLAME' FOR 'APOCALYPTIC' WILDFIRES

Trump signed a separate executive order in January establishing FEMA Review Council to "drastically" improve the federal agency tasked with handling disaster assistance across the nation. 

"Despite obligating nearly $30 billion in disaster aid each of the past three years, FEMA has managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most," that executive order read. "There are serious concerns of political bias in FEMA. Indeed, at least one former FEMA responder has stated that FEMA managers directed her to avoid homes of individuals supporting the campaign of Donald J. Trump for President."

TRUMP WARNS FEMA FACES A RECKONING AFTER BIDEN ADMIN: 'NOT DONE THEIR JOB'

Trump additionally has railed against left-wing policies that he says have compounded natural disaster response, most notably in California over its water infrastructure policies that he said contributed to the raging wildfires that destroyed swaths of areas around Los Angeles in January. 

"Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way," Trump posted to Truth Social in January as the wildfires spread. 

Trump signed a separate executive order on Jan. 24 that provides additional water resources to California to improve the state's response to disaster. 

The order Trump is expected to sign on Monday will serve as a continuation of his pledge "to shift power from Washington to the American people," similar to the California executive order and establishing the FEMA Review Council in January, Fox Digital learned. 

New York City filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Friday seeking to wrestle back more than $80 million previously sent to the city via the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house migrants.  

The suit argues that the funds were previously approved and then paid out by FEMA, only to be removed from a city bank account on Feb. 11 without notice or administrative process.

The funding had been revoked after Elon Musk claimed that the Department of Government Efficiency found a $59 million FEMA payment to New York City that was being used on luxury hotels to house illegal migrants. Trump later repeated Musk's claim and argued that "massive fraud" was happening.

New York City was awarded two separate grants during the Biden administration – one for $58.6 million and another for $21.9 million – as the city attempted to pay to house migrants, many of whom were sent by Texas officials who were frustrated with the Biden administration's handling of the influx of migrants entering the U.S. through the southern border.

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SAYS HE WILL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION AS A DEMOCRAT

The payments were made under the Shelter and Services Program (SPP) that Congress appropriated $650 million for last year to help local governments respond to the migrant crisis. There are currently fewer than 45,000 migrants staying at taxpayer-funded shelters in New York City, up from a high of 69,000 more than a year ago.

Friday’s lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by the city’s law department, which handles the city’s legal affairs, against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The lawsuit accuses the federal government of violating federal regulations and the terms of the SSP grant, as well as abusing the federal government’s authority and obligations to implement congressionally approved and funded programs. ­

The suit argues that on Feb. 19, the federal government belatedly provided the city with a "noncompliance" letter that did not identify any noncompliance by the city. 

"Rather, it announced ‘concerns,’ which are unfounded and do not comport with how the city has managed the unprecedented crisis brought to its doorstep," the law department said.

Citing the government’s actions as a "money grab," the law department said the letter was a "mere cover" to mask the federal government’s real purpose, which is to permanently withhold the funds because it opposes their use on migrants.

The city is looking to recoup the funds and is seeking a motion for a preliminary and permanent injunction, and motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO).

New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended and supported the lawsuit in a series of posts on X late Friday, writing that the $80 million was approved, paid for and then rescinded – all while the city spent more than $7 billion of its own taxpayer money to tackle the crisis over the last three years.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MOVES TO DROP CASE AGAINST NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS

"We are going to work to ensure our city’s residents get every dollar they are owed," Adams wrote in on post. 

"Without a doubt, our immigration system is broken, but the cost of managing an international humanitarian crisis should not overwhelmingly fall onto one city alone. We have skillfully shouldered the cost of this humanitarian crisis almost entirely on our own, with more than 231,000 people entering our city seeking shelter."

Meanwhile, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander claimed the suit came about after he forced Adams’ hand on the matter. Adams has come under fire from New York Democrats over his decision to be more cooperative with federal immigration agencies in apprehending criminal illegal migrants amid the Justice Department efforts to dismiss corruption charges against him.

"After my office discovered that Elon Musk and his DOGE goon squad stole $80 million out of the City’s coffers, we successfully pressured Mayor Adams to allow the City’s lawyers to sue the federal government to get our money back," Lander said in a statement. 

"The lawyers who are standing up to President Trump and Eric Adams’ collusion deserve praise and we look forward to Donald Trump returning the money he stole from New York."

Lander is running against Adams in the mayoral election later this year.

READ THE LAWSUIT BELOW: APP USERS CLICK HERE.

Fox News’ Landon Mion, Maria Paronich and Jennifer Johnson contributed to this report. 

The government's leading disaster relief agency reportedly spent millions on hotels for illegal immigrants just last week, according to Elon Musk, who is leading the Trump administration's efforts to cut government spending.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by the tech billionaire, has been conducting a sweep of federal funding and identifying areas in which "waste" within the government can be slashed. Musk found his most recent target in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the government's disaster relief branch that recently sparked concern over a reported lack of funds during Hurricane Helene.

"The @DOGE team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants," Musk claimed in a post on X on Monday morning.

KRISTI NOEM HEADS TO ASHEVILLE AMID HEAVY CRITICISM OF FEMA RESPONSE UNDER BIDEN

During former President Biden's term, FEMA faced backlash after it was reported that while they lacked the necessary funds needed to help Hurricane Helene victims, they were dishing out money that ended up being used to aid illegal immigrants. 

Speaker Mike Johnson clarified that emergency relief funding is separate from FEMA funds allocated to immigration, but said that the agency should not have any part in funding the border crisis.

FEMA partners with Customs and Border Control (CBP) and administers money to the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), a government-funded program that provides assistance and housing for illegal immigrants released into the U.S. 

PRESIDENT TRUMP PREDICTS ELON MUSK WILL FIND ‘HUNDRED OF BILLIONS’ IN WASTE IN NEXT DOGE DIRECTIVES

In his message Monday, Musk charged that "sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order," which put FEMA under review to improve the agency’s "efficacy, priorities and competence."

"That money is meant for American disaster relief," Musk wrote.

A New York City Hall spokesperson confirmed to Fox that the city had received funds "through the past week" that were allocated by the Biden administration for the purpose of housing and supporting illegal immigrants.

Of the $59.3 million, $19 million was for direct hotel costs, while the balance funded other services such as food and security. According to NY City Hall, the funds were not part of a disaster relief grant.

The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News Digital that those who made the payment will be "held accountable."

"As Secretary Noem said yesterday, we must get rid of FEMA the way it exists today. This is yet another egregious example," DHS said in a statement. "Individuals who circumvented leadership and unilaterally made this payment will be fired and held accountable."

The report comes just one day after Secretary Kristi Noem of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, suggested getting rid of FEMA "the way it exists today."  

After Hurricane Helene made its deadly sweep across the south in the fall, Republican lawmakers warned that "FEMA’s continued entanglement in DHS’ efforts to respond to the border crisis could impact its readiness and emergency response mission."

President Donald Trump has also called for FEMA to be reformed, suggesting during his first week in office that states be in control of their own disaster funding.

"FEMA has turned out to be a disaster," Trump said while delivering remarks on the Hurricane Helene damage in January. "I think we’re going to recommend that FEMA go away, and we pay directly — we pay a percentage to the state."

Fox News Digital reached out to FEMA for comment.

Fox News' Grace Taggart, Adam Shaw and Emma Colton contributed to this report.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that she supported getting rid of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) "the way it exists today." 

In an appearance on CNN’s "State of the Union," Noem’s stance appeared in line with that of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who have both suggested shutting down FEMA could be an option, as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly gained access to FEMA’s sensitive disaster relief data to review its programs. 

"Can and should Donald Trump shut it down?" CNN’s Dana Bash asked Noem. 

"He can. And I believe that he will do that evaluation with his team," Noem said. "And he's talking about it, which I'm grateful for. He'll work with Congress, though, to make sure that it's done correctly and that we're still there to help folks who have a terrible disaster or a crisis in their life. He's been very clear that he still believes there's a role for the federal government to come in and help people get back up on their feet. But there's a lot of fraud and waste and abuse out there. And since President Trump has taken over and come back into this administration, we've seen incredible change." 

NOEM RESPONDS TO SECRET SERVICE SCRUTINY AS TRUMP TO BECOME 1ST PRESIDENT TO ATTEND SUPER BOWL

Noem, who visited Asheville, North Carolina, on Saturday to meet with Hurricane Helene victims and survey the damage, told CNN that she oversaw 12 different natural disasters that prompted a FEMA response when she was governor of South Dakota.

As Trump considers block grants for state and local officials experiencing natural disasters, Noem said Sunday that she knew from experience that local officials, such as county emergency management directors, mayors, city council and commissioners "made way better decisions than the people in Washington, D.C."  

Asked what she would tell Trump if the president asked her to get rid of FEMA, Noem said, "I would say yes, get rid of FEMA the way it exists today." 

"We still need the resources and the funds and the finances to go to people that have these types of disasters like Hurricane Helene and the fires in California," Noem told Bash. "But you need to let the local officials make the decisions on how that is deployed so it can be deployed much quicker. And we don't need this bureaucracy that's picking and choosing winners." 

Noem said Trump "has been clear, too, that he still wants to help people," but condemned FEMA for "targeting individuals, helping some people and not others." The secretary appeared to be referencing how FEMA employees under former President Biden skipped homes in hurricane-ravaged areas that had displayed pro-Trump signs last year. 

KRISTI NOEM HEADS TO ASHEVILLE AMID HEAVY CRITICISM OF FEMA RESPONSE UNDER BIDEN

Noem also referenced how Trump managed to close 80% of the open FEMA cases in North Carolina related to Hurricane Helene," adding, "It's amazing when you have somebody who cares … how quickly the response can be." 

The DHS secretary also defended Musk, as DOGE conducts an audit of federal agencies.

"We're working with them at the president's direction to find what we can do to make our department much more efficient," Noem said. "This is essentially an audit of the federal government…. And one of the things I've been very clear to the appropriators in the Senate and the House is please give me the authority to reprogram funds." 

Asked if she felt comfortable with Musk's data access, Noem said, "Elon Musk is part of the administration that is helping us identify where we can find savings and what we can do. And he has gone through the processes to make sure that he has the authority. The president has appointed him. I am today by the work that he is doing, by identifying waste, fraud and abuse. And his information that he has is looking at programs, not focusing on personal data and information." 

After the interview, Musk posted to X on Monday morning that his DOGE team discovered that FEMA last week alone sent $59 million to "luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants." Musk said that "sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order," and, "that money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high end hotels for illegals!" 

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"A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds," Musk added. 

While responding to the most damaging wildfires in the history of California, FEMA employees received an order “for immediate compliance” this week that states they must immediately change their vocabulary to comply with the Trump Administration’s preferred terminology on gender and immigration. 

For example, FEMA employees are no longer allowed to call undocumented immigrants “migrants” or “undocumented individuals,” they must instead call them “undocumented aliens or illegal aliens.” FEMA can no longer refer to the idea of “integration,” it must begin to say “assimilation.” 

The subject line of the email was "For Immediate Compliance."

"While the following chart presents examples of terminology that should be replaced, it should not be considered to be comprehensive, particularly in the immigration space. Please consult your program counsel for additional language if you are unsure," the email says. It then includes this table:

The “terminology changes” were sent to FEMA employees in the recovery division of Region 9 of FEMA, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and U.S. Pacific Islands. The language changes mirror those required of ICE agents and Department of Homeland Security employees (FEMA is a part of DHS). Similar notices have gone out to huge parts of the federal government, including NASA. While the most devastating wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods of Los Angeles are no longer burning, FEMA is busy with recovery efforts as the city tries to begin planning how to rebuild. California governor Gavin Newsom has called the fires the “worst natural disaster in US history.”

But the email obtained by 404 Media indicates that Trump’s war on words extends to the federal workers tasked with helping, for example, people in Los Angeles recover from devastating wildfires. The mission of the recovery division is “to provide assistance to individuals and communities overwhelmed by all hazards, including acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies.”

“This is the most 1984 email I’ve ever seen,” a FEMA employee told 404 Media. “For a group that hates political correctness—this contains politically correct terminology.” 

• Trump threatened to eliminate FEMA, arguing its disaster response is too slow and costly.
• FEMA is responding to more climate-fueled disasters and often projects budget shortfalls.
• Former FEMA leaders have proposed that states take on more disaster preparedness and response.

After touring flood-ravaged areas of North Carolina and the wildfire devastation in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump is threatening the organization tasked with leading federal disaster recovery.

"I think we're going to recommend that FEMA go away," Trump said in a press conference in North Carolina on Friday.

Trump critisized the Federal Emergency Management Agency as "slow" and "bureaucratic," arguing it costs too much money and that states would do a better job handling disaster response. He's since issued an executive order directing a "full-scale review" of FEMA as a first step to either overhauling or eliminating the agency.

The president's threat comes as FEMA responds to an increasing number of catastrophic disasters across the country. Thousands of FEMA workers are spread out across places like LA, North Carolina, and Georgia and tasked with delivering financial aid to people displaced by wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, and tornadoes.

Both Republican and Democratic officials have warned the agency is stretched too thin and have also proposed states take on a greater share of preparedness and response. Already, state and local governments lead their own disaster recovery efforts and ask FEMA to step in when they lack enough resources to handle it themselves. After the president approves a disaster declaration request from a governor, FEMA mobilizes a national response that involves coordinating with other agencies.

"Think of FEMA as the quarterback for the federal government's response. But this is all in support of the state," Daniel Kaniewski, who served as the second-highest ranking official at FEMA during Trump's first term, said. FEMA helps fund both short-term emergency response and longer-term recovery for months — and in some cases years — after a disaster.

The president alone also can't eliminate FEMA, which would require Congress to change several laws. Trump's executive order established a FEMA review council co-chaired by the secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense. The council is tasked with evaluating the agency's disaster response during the past four years and comparing it to efforts by state and local governments.

The Senate has confirmed former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security and Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. Trump hasn't nominated a FEMA administrator yet.

Here's a look at FEMA's budget and role during a natural disaster.

FEMA has three main assistance programs

The agency said it employs more than 20,000 people nationwide, including in Washington, DC, and across 10 regional offices, and has a $33 billion budget appropriated by Congress. The vast majority of that budget is for the Disaster Relief Fund, the primary account that pays for the government's response and recovery efforts.

Once the president approves a disaster declaration, FEMA has the authority to offer a range of financial aid to governments and individuals. These programs are known as public, hazard mitigation, and individual assistance.

FEMA typically reimburses state and local governments for 75% of the costs of handling a disaster and long-term recovery. These costs can include debris removal, search and rescue, emergency transportation, distributing food and first aid, and rebuilding public infrastructure. FEMA also issues billions of dollars in grants to state and local governments for projects that harden communities against future disasters, such as enforcing stronger building codes, building sea walls, and upgrading stormwater systems.

Disaster survivors can apply for individual assistance, which is largely targeted at the uninsured or underinsured. FEMA grants can cover temporary housing, rental assistance, home repairs, unemployment benefits, and in some cases legal services.

"FEMA doesn't allow for duplication of benefits, so if your insurance paid for something, then you can't get reimbursed by the federal government," Kaniewski, now a managing director at Marsh McLennan, a consulting firm, said.

FEMA said it has provided more than $316 million in grants to Hurricane Helene survivors in North Carolina alone, including more than $6.2 million in rental assistance.

In 2024, FEMA also started offering "serious needs assistance." The $750 grant helps cover disaster survivors's emergency expenses such as evacuation, food, and shelter. The new grant was part of a broader set of changes aimed at streamlining individual assistance after long-standing complaints from disaster survivors that the process took too long.

FEMA leaders say it's strapped for resources and that states could take on more responsibility

Congress is unlikely to eliminate FEMA altogether. However, several former FEMA leaders have raised concerns that the agency is stretched too thin and proposed that states do more to prepare and respond to disasters.

Since October 2022, FEMA has regularly projected shortfalls in the Disaster Relief Fund, in part because the agency is responding to a rising number of hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other disasters. Scientists warn are becoming more frequent and destructive due to the climate crisis. Between fiscal years 1988 and 1997, there were an average of 39 major disaster declarations. In the most recent decade, there were an average of 63, an increase of 61%, the Congressional Research Service found.

Presidents have also expanded FEMA's mandate beyond responding to weather-related disasters — further taxing its resources. The agency in recent years has helped local governments respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and an increasing number of unaccompanied children crossing the southern border.

The Trump administration may look to Project 2025, a policy agenda published by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, for ideas to shift more costs to the states.

The section on FEMA calls on Congress to change the cost-share arrangement so that the federal government covers 25% of the costs for small disasters. But for "truly catastrophic" disasters, the threshold should be capped at 75%

Project 2025 also proposed that FEMA raise its "per capita indicator," which the agency uses to measure the financial impact of a disaster and whether the federal government steps in. The indicator is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index, but Project 2025 said it hasn't kept pace with inflation. That's lowered the threshold for public assistance and "caused FEMA's resources to be stretched perilously thin."

President Donald Trump put the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under review on Sunday after signing an executive order aimed at "drastically" improving the agency’s efficacy, priorities and competence.

Trump’s executive order establishes the FEMA Review Council, which will be composed of no more than 20 members and co-chaired by the secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense.

The council is being formed after FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene and other recent disasters showed the need to improve "efficacy, priorities, and competence, including evaluating whether FEMA’s bureaucracy in disaster response" hinders its ability to respond successfully.

"Despite obligating nearly $30 billion in disaster aid each of the past three years, FEMA has managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most," the executive order reads. "There are serious concerns of political bias in FEMA. Indeed, at least one former FEMA responder has stated that FEMA managers directed her to avoid homes of individuals supporting the campaign of Donald J. Trump for President."

‘FEMA IS NOT GOOD:’ TRUMP ANNOUNCES AGENCY OVERHAUL DURING VISIT TO NORTH CAROLINA

Trump also said FEMA has lost mission focus, diverting limited resources and staff to support missions outside its scope and authority. The president particularly highlighted that FEMA has spent over a billion dollars welcoming illegal immigrants.

"Americans deserve an immediate, effective, and impartial response to and recovery from disasters," the order continued. "FEMA therefore requires a full-scale review, by individuals highly experienced at effective disaster response and recovery, who shall recommend to the President improvements or structural changes to promote the national interest and enable national resilience."

TRUMP SAYS NEWSOM IS TO 'BLAME' FOR 'APOCALYPTIC' WILDFIRES

Trump announced Friday that he plans to overhaul FEMA as North Carolina is still recovering from Hurricane Helene more than 120 days after the storm devastated the state.

"I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump told reporters in North Carolina on Friday morning. "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good."

FAST-MOVING HUGHES FIRE ERUPTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS ORDER EVACUATIONS

Trump promised his administration would step in and assist North Carolina to fix the damage quickly, vowing to "do a good job" for the state. 

The president also said he would like to see the states assume more responsibility when disaster strikes, arguing those familiar with the state are better equipped to provide disaster response and relief. 

So far, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers claim that only half of the debris recovery from Hurricane Helene is complete. Additionally, thousands of families in North Carolina remain in hotels that FEMA is footing the bill for through its Transitional Housing Assistance program. 

Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy contributed to this report.

• President Donald Trump has threatened to scrap the emergency agency FEMA.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency is tasked with responding to disasters across the US.
• Trump's comments came during a national disaster recovery tour that saw him visit Los Angeles and North Carolina.

President Donald Trump threatened to scrap the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a visit to North Carolina on Friday.

During a press briefing, Trump said he would sign an executive order that would "begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA" or "maybe getting rid of" the agency entirely.

"FEMA has been a very big disappointment," Trump said, adding that the agency — which employs more than 20,000 people across the US — was "very bureaucratic," "very slow," and "cost a tremendous amount of money."

"Other than that we're very happy with them," Trump joked, reiterating that he believed states should be in charge of managing disasters.

After Hurricane Helene hit the US in late September, FEMA received both criticism and praise for its work.

Trump was speaking in Fletcher, North Carolina, as part of a national disaster recovery tour that later saw him visit areas affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.

During his trip to California, Trump met with local leaders and pledged to provide federal disaster relief for people affected by the fires, which ravaged the region earlier this month.

Trump received a warm welcome from California Gov. Gavin Newsom as he touched down in the state, despite a tense relationship between the pair in recent weeks.

They appeared to set aside their differences as Trump said he wanted to work together on the recovery.

Trump had previously threatened to withhold federal funds for recovery.

The LA fires could be some of the costliest in US history. AccuWeather has estimated the preliminary total damage and economic loss to be between $250 billion and $275 billion.

Early estimates suggested the potential economic losses of Hurricane Helene could be more than $50 billion.

President Donald Trump said he plans to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency as North Carolina still recovers from Hurricane Helene – more than 120 days after the storm struck the state. 

"I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump told reporters in North Carolina Friday morning. I think, frankly, FEMA is not good."

Trump also promised his administration would step in and assist North Carolina to fix the damage quickly, vowing to "do a good job" for the state. 

"We're going to fix it, and we're going to fix it as fast as you can," Trump said. "It's a massive amount of damage. FEMA has really let us down. Let the country down. And I don't know if that's Biden's fault or whose fault it is, but we're going to take over. We're going to do a good job."

Trump also said he would like to see the states assume more responsibility when disaster strikes, arguing those familiar with the state are better equipped to provide disaster response and relief. 

TRUMP, GOP LEADERS MEET AT WHITE HOUSE AS PRESIDENT PLANS VISIT TO NC, DEFENDS EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Trump also promised to work with three of the lawmakers whose areas were affected by Hurricane Helene, claiming that FEMA was "not on the ball" in assisting North Carolina in the aftermath of the hurricane. 

"So we’re going to be doing something on FEMA that I think most people agree [with]," Trump said. "I’d like to see the states take care of disasters, let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen. And I think you’re going to find it a lot less expensive. You’ll do it for less than half, and you’re going to get a lot quicker response."

So far, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers claim that only half of debris recovery for Hurricane Helene is complete. Additionally, thousands of families in North Carolina remain in hotels FEMA is footing the bill for under its Transitional Housing Assistance (TSA) program. 

TRUMP SAYS NEWSOM IS TO 'BLAME' FOR 'APOCALYPTIC' WILDFIRES

While these families were approaching a late January deadline that would have removed them from the hotels, FEMA announced this week it extended the deadline to May 26. In total, more than 3,000 families are eligible for the program extension. 

"It's been a horrible thing the way that's been allowed to fester and we're going to get it fixed up," Trump told reporters at the White House Friday prior to departing for North Carolina. "It should have been done months ago from the hurricane that took place almost four months ago. North Carolina's been treated very badly so we're stopping there." 

FAST-MOVING HUGHES FIRE ERUPTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS ORDER EVACUATIONS

Trump said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that "Democrats don’t care about North Carolina" and that’s why he would visit the state for his first official trip as president during his second term. 

Trump is slated to visit California on Friday as well to survey the damage from wildfires that have ravaged the state this month. 

"It looks like something hit it, we won’t talk about what hit it," Trump said. "But it is a bad, bad situation." 

Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich and Aubrey Conklin contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump warned late Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is set to face a reckoning following four years under the Biden administration, arguing the emergency agency has "not done their job." 

"FEMA has not done their job for the last four years. You know, I had FEMA working really well. We had hurricanes in Florida. We had Alabama tornadoes. But unless you have certain types of leadership, it's really, it gets in the way. And FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly, because I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems," Trump said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, his first White House interview since his inauguration. 

Trump then turned his attention to the state of Oklahoma, touting that he won all 77 of the state's counties in the 2024 election, and arguing that if the Sooner State is hit by a tornado, state leaders should take the lead on emergency response before the federal government steps in for additional assistance. 

"I love Oklahoma, but you know what? If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it. … And then the federal government can help them out with the money. FEMA is getting in the way of everything, and the Democrats actually use FEMA not to help North Carolina," Trump continued. 

TRUMP, GOP LEADERS MEET AT WHITE HOUSE AS PRESIDENT PLANS VISIT TO NC, DEFENDS EXECUTIVE ORDERS

FEMA came under the nation's microscope last year when Hurricane Helene ripped through North Carolina, devastating residents as it wiped out homes and businesses and killed more than 100 people. FEMA and the Biden administration faced fierce backlash for its handling of the emergency, while Trump accused the agency of obstructing relief efforts in Republican areas. 

"The Democrats don't care about North Carolina. What they've done with FEMA is so bad. FEMA is a whole 'nother discussion, because all it does is complicate everything," he said. 

TRUMP SAYS NEWSOM IS TO 'BLAME' FOR 'APOCALYPTIC' WILDFIRES

"So I'm stopping on Friday. I'm stopping in North Carolina, first stop, because those people were treated very badly by Democrats. And I'm stopping there. We're going to get that thing straightened out because they're still suffering from a hurricane from months ago," Trump said. 

Trump will visit North Carolina on Friday, his first trip as president, where he is expected to tour and meet with residents who were left devastated by the hurricane in September. He will also visit California that same day, where wildfires have ripped through the Los Angeles area this month. 

The trip is set to highlight what Trump has described as emergency response failures at the hands of Democratic leaders. 

FAST-MOVING HUGHES FIRE ERUPTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS ORDER EVACUATIONS

"And then I'm going to then I'm going to go to California," he said, before criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom's handling of wildfire prevention and response. Trump has long criticized the Democratic governor for prioritizing environmental policies, such as protecting the dwindling smelt and Chinook salmon populations, and not tapping water sources in the northern part of the state that he argued would allow better fire response. 

"There is massive amounts of water, rain water and mountain water, that comes to with the snow, comes down, as it melts, there's so much water they're releasing it into the Pacific Ocean," he said.

President Biden said the federal government will provide one-time payments of $770 to people impacted by the ongoing California wildfires, so they can pay for essentials like baby formula, prescriptions, clothes and food.

Biden made the announcement Thursday evening during a briefing from the Oval Office on the situation in Southern California. According to the president, nearly 6,000 people had been approved to receive the payments thus far, leading to a total of $5.1 million that has already gone out through this program.  

"We're not waiting until those fires are over to start helping the victims. We're getting them help right now," Biden said from the Oval Office.

FEMA ADMINISTRATOR URGES HURRICANE HELENE VICTIMS TO TAKE ACTION AMID RISK OF LOSING TEMPORARY HOUSING 

The president approved California's disaster declaration on Jan. 8, opening up federal funding to affected individuals in Los Angeles for the purposes of temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the wildfires. Additionally, the president pledged that the federal government would cover 100% of the cost of California's disaster response for a period of six months.

Meanwhile, during the Monday evening briefing, Biden called on Congress to step up with more funding for the wildfire and its victims.

NEWSOM DEFENDS FIRE RESPONSE WITH FACT-CHECK SITE LINKING TO DEM PARTY FUNDRAISING PLATFORM

"It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to get Los Angeles to what it was," Biden said during a briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and emergency officials. "We are going to need Congress to step up with the funding."

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell indicated during the Monday briefing that a total of 33,000 people impacted by the California fires had requested federal assistance. She said the number continues to rise, and they don't expect it to slow down in the near term. 

Criswell added during the Monday Oval Office briefing that about 700 to 800 people were currently staying in eight emergency shelters as a result of the wildfire, noting that meant a lot of folks had found shelter with family and friends, or in hotel rooms. Criswell said that through the federal government's disaster declaration, people staying in hotels could be reimbursed for the costs.

In addition to FEMA, the Department of Defense and National Guard have also deployed federal resources to help fight the fires that have claimed at least 24 lives so far.

How to cut federal spending – and by how much – consumes Congressional Republicans right now.

Firestorms are scorching Southern California. But a political firestorm is about to singe Capitol Hill.

The natural disaster dynamic has morphed into a regular fiscal nightmare in Congress. And frankly, the way lawmakers address natural disasters creates a hyper obstacle to making a serious dent in the deficit and national debt.

Expect staggering costs.

TRUMP GIVES BLUE STATE REPUBLICANS MARCHING ORDER ON CRITICAL TAX NEGOTIATION

"This is going to be a very expensive event," forecast Rep. George Whitesides, D-Calif. 

FEMA is bracing for the price tag.

"We know this is going to be billions," said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.

President Biden is vowing help. 

"We’re going to pay for it. And we've got to be prepared to pay for it," said the president. "We're going to need the United States Congress to follow up with appropriations to help provide significant help for our fellow Americans who need this help." 

Catastrophic natural disasters now pummel different quarters of the U.S. at an alarming rate. Devastating wildfires swept across Maui in 2023. Tornado outbreaks are the norm. Blackouts from the heat – or blizzards coupled with bone-chilling cold – dim the power grid. The dual hurricanes of Milton and Helene spun through the south last year, chewing through property just days apart in the fall. Water spilled out of rivers, creeks, steams, brooks and culverts, submerging entire communities.

Congress coughed up $100 billion just before Christmas to help victims recover from the hurricanes. Some of that money went to help people restart their businesses or cover costs to rebuild. $27 billion of it went to reload FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to prepare for future emergencies – like the one now incinerating the Golden State. Milton and Helene drained the DRF.

But Republicans now run Congress. President-elect Trump soon occupies the Oval Office. And when it comes to California – and what may have sparked the fires, Republicans could be reluctant to assist. That’s especially true as the mantra from Republicans is to slash $2 trillion in spending. In fact, there’s a fear among some Democrats that Congressional Republicans and President-elect Trump may try to penalize California – because it leans to the left.

Republicans now run the House and Senate. Mr. Trump takes office next week.

"When it comes to Congressional funding, the idea that we're going to have an open checkbook, no matter how bad your policies are, is crazy," said Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, on FOX Business.

TRUMP REPORTEDLY PLANS TO UNLEASH AROUND 100 EXECUTIVE ORDERS AFTER TAKING OFFICE

Democrats warned against partisan and region discord when natural disasters strike. 

"California has voted to support supplemental packages for hurricanes in the American South. And now this is our time of need," said Whitesides.

Several Northern California Republicans told Fox that Democrats from Southern California were exceptionally helpful muscling through aid for their part of the state after wildfires.

So what happens when the bill comes due for the Los Angeles wildfires?

"We help all Americans," said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee which oversees FEMA.

Thompson was confident Congress would meet the needs of California.

"If we need to do more, we will," said Thompson. 

Some Republicans blamed the wildfires - and the response - on liberal Democrats who run much of California. 

"It is an epic disaster of mismanagement," said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., on FOX Business. 

"What's happened in California is the fault of (California Gov.) Gavin Newsom (D) and the legislature there."

"What we can see is the failure of policy there and the failure of leadership in California," piled on Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., on Fox. "We’re going to have to have real accountability. We need to have hearings to understand… to get to the bottom of what's taking place. What the failures have been."

California insurers nixed hundreds of thousands of policies for homeowners in areas prone to wildfires after state regulators banned higher premiums – despite the hazards. Some Republicans seized on this issue.

"California made some really bad policy decisions that caused those insurance companies to flee," said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. "The people that made those policy decisions have to be held accountable, too."

Even some Democrats questioned the local response. 

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., worked on a bill to help guarantee water for all Californians when they turn on the spigot when he served in the state legislature.

NEWSOM FACT-CHECK SITE ON FIRE RESPONSE LINKS TO DEM PARTY FUNDRAISING GIANT

"Why didn't they have water? Is it negligence or is it just the fact that so many fires were breaking out all over the city in so many different areas that the system was being pushed to capacity and got overwhelmed?" asked Gomez. 

Other Democrats rebuked GOP criticism of California’s leaders.

"I think that's all just ridiculous," said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif. "I think the governor is on the ground doing a great job managing the response. I don't think that we should be putting blame on anyone." 

The cost of the fires likely means demands for another infusion of cash from Congress for FEMA – just as Republicans are starting to look to cut billions if not more than a trillion dollars. How can lawmakers pay for natural disasters – and yet slash all of this money? 

"It's always going to be hard. I think we just got to prioritize. And, I think we need to couple any major spending with cuts on the other side," said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.

"So to be clear, when that bill comes due for California, some conservatives want to see some offsets?" asked yours truly of Burchett.

"Absolutely," replied Burchett.

The wildfires would have been a major issue had Congress not forked over more than $100 billion just to FEMA and various disasters in the bill before Christmas. Yet some Republicans are skeptical of the competence of FEMA to do the job. 

"I doubt the people of California will get their $700 that will be promised to them. Because as it happened in North Carolina, in Tennessee, a lot of people were turned down because all their identification was burnt up or was washed away. And there it'll be all burnt up. It'll just be a cluster," predicted Burchett.

Florida’s former statewide emergency management director posed an ominous warning.

"I’ve got bad news for everybody. Disasters are coming everywhere," observed Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., on MSNBC.

More disasters means additional demand for relief. That’s the challenge as Republicans try to cut spending. 

A few wise souls on Capitol Hill have tinkered with developing a new model to address natural disasters. The current budget model is fund appropriations under the premise that NOTHING will happen. Then it’s sometimes a challenge for lawmakers to pass a bill providing additional aid. 

So there were two monster hurricanes in the fall. Wildfires now. What’s next? An earthquake? Blizzards? Ice storms? Tornadoes? Drought? Floods? 

There has been debate about creating a "rainy day fund" - perhaps a "monsoon day fund" - that Congress can tap to dispatch major chunks of money without hassle when natural disasters hit.

Other natural disasters are inevitable. 

But Congressional funding to cover the cost is far from it.