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After a brief pause during January’s severe winter storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to resume staff cuts that have sparked widespread concern about the agency’s disaster response capabilities, according to two FEMA managers familiar with the situation.
The cuts specifically target Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery employees, known as CORE staff, who make up nearly half of FEMA’s workforce. Despite being hired on term-limited contracts, these employees often serve in senior positions and play critical roles in emergency response operations. Many have worked at the agency for years or even decades.
“It’s a big impact to our ability to implement and carry out the programs entrusted to us,” one FEMA manager told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to discuss the staffing changes publicly.
The two managers were informed this week that the dismissals would soon resume but weren’t given a specific timeline or told how many employees would be affected. The initial round of cuts began in early January when FEMA abruptly stopped renewing employment contracts for CORE employees, but the agency temporarily halted these reductions in late January as a massive winter storm threatened half the country’s population.
FEMA spokesperson Daniel Llargues did not directly confirm or deny the planned staffing cuts in an emailed statement, instead emphasizing that the CORE program was designed to fluctuate based on operational needs and available funding.
“We are confident that our staffing decisions are consistent with both the mission and the intended structure of the CORE program,” Llargues said.
According to agency staff who spoke with The Associated Press, the cuts have been implemented indiscriminately, without considering employees’ experience or the importance of their roles. Some teams have been completely eliminated, while others have lost their leadership.
The decision-making process behind these cuts remains unclear. The FEMA managers noted that the usual procedure of making the case to extend contracts months in advance has been abandoned, with managers often learning about terminations at the same time as their employees. It’s uncertain whether the directive is coming from FEMA leadership or the Department of Homeland Security.
CORE employees, who number more than 10,000, are funded through FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund and can continue working during government shutdowns as long as the fund has money. This flexibility has traditionally allowed FEMA to respond quickly to disasters.
The workforce reductions come amid the Trump administration’s stated goal of reforming FEMA to reduce waste and shift emergency management responsibilities to states. Government data shows FEMA lost nearly 10% of its workforce between January and June 2025, raising concerns among disaster experts about the agency’s future capabilities.
A draft report from the Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council reportedly recommended cutting the agency’s workforce by half, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously. The council’s final report, due last November, has not been published.
Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced a resolution Wednesday condemning the FEMA staff cuts. “Based on past disasters, we know that slashing FEMA’s workforce will put Americans at risk, plain and simple,” Thompson stated.
The cuts have also prompted legal action. Last week, a coalition led by the American Federation of Government Employees filed a complaint against the Trump Administration over the reductions.
Current FEMA employees report that even though the agency managed to support states during Winter Storm Fern, the impact of staff losses over the past year is already evident. According to one CORE employee who requested anonymity, there are fewer staff available for backup operations, and remaining personnel are experiencing burnout due to the ongoing uncertainty about their employment.
The situation raises significant questions about FEMA’s long-term capacity to respond to natural disasters and emergencies, particularly as climate change continues to intensify extreme weather events across the country.
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8 Comments
While budget constraints may drive these staff cuts, FEMA should carefully weigh the long-term risks to public safety. Disaster response is a core government function, and we can’t afford to compromise it, even in tough fiscal times.
This news raises serious questions about FEMA’s priorities and preparedness. Cutting staff during a time of increasing extreme weather events seems shortsighted and potentially dangerous for communities that rely on the agency’s support.
It’s troubling to hear FEMA is cutting staff, especially the CORE employees who play crucial roles in emergency response. With climate change leading to more frequent and severe storms, we need a well-staffed FEMA more than ever to protect communities.
You’re right, this is a concerning development. FEMA needs to maintain sufficient capacity to fulfill its vital mission, especially for vulnerable populations who rely on the agency’s support during crises.
This is concerning news about FEMA staff cuts during a critical time. Disaster response capabilities should be strengthened, not weakened. I hope FEMA can reconsider these cuts and maintain sufficient staffing to handle emergencies effectively.
Agreed. Reducing FEMA’s workforce at a time of increasing extreme weather events seems like a shortsighted decision that could compromise the agency’s ability to respond to future disasters.
FEMA’s CORE staff play an irreplaceable role, and losing them could seriously hamper the agency’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies. I hope FEMA can find a way to retain these experienced personnel.
Agreed. FEMA’s mission is too important to be undermined by short-sighted staffing decisions. The agency needs to maintain a robust, experienced workforce to fulfill its critical responsibilities.