'Not great': DOGE's next target could be breaking point for Republicans and Trump

21.02.2025 17:53

Raw Story

Republican lawmakers might finally reach a breaking point with president Donald Trump over likely cuts to Federal Emergency Management Agency by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

Senior officials in the agency were ordered in recent days to submit a list of “anyone who worked or works on climate, environmental justice, equity, DEIA" so they could be fired, according to an email obtained by CNN, but Republicans have had trouble finding out more details about the administration's plans.

“I understand this will impact the majority of our staff” read the email sent to senior officials in the resiliency office at FEMA. “I know that this feels like a shock to many of you and is an exceedingly difficult task.”

The cuts would come as FEMA is activated at all times to clean up from what agency administrator Deanne Criswell called climate-fueled winter wildfires and disastrous hailstorms in spring, in addition to hurricanes in summer and fall, and Trump is looking to possibly shut down the agency altogether and pass its responsibilities to individual states.

“FEMA provides critically important role in disaster recovery," said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).

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Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, which is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, said he's been trying to convince the administration to reform FEMA instead of eliminating it.

“If it’s with an eye towards more efficiency and resiliency, great," Tillis said. "If it’s an eye towards cutting funding to western North Carolina, not great."

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), whose state also regularly gets hit by hurricanes and other natural disasters, agreed with Tillis.

“Whether FEMA exists or not, there needs to be an agency that provides emergency management services when catastrophes are too big for the state and local community to handle,” Cassidy said. “Could there be reforms in FEMA? Absolutely.”

However, some Republican lawmakers seem to believe the agency could be operated out of a single office by almost anyone.

“You probably would need two people” said Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA). “A director and somebody to run the computer, probably a young person and say, ‘Okay, boom,’ check goes out.”