FEMA Administrator Announces Shift of Disaster Aid to States
FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton announced plans to reduce federal disaster aid, requiring states to build their own financial reserves and a national mutual aid system.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Cameron Hamilton announced that the Donald Trump administration plans to shift disaster recovery responsibilities from the federal government to the states within the next six months. Speaking at the National Emergency Management Association’s annual conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, Hamilton stated that states must increase their financial reserves and emergency capabilities to reduce dependency on federal disaster declarations.
This policy shift follows an October 15 internal memo and aligns with broader goals to reduce federal agency spending. Hamilton proposed a national mutual aid system where states support one another during floods, tornadoes, and wildfires, arguing that federal dollars should build capability rather than dependency. He also indicated that the agency would seek to waive federal environmental and historical preservation requirements to reduce bureaucracy.
Local and state officials expressed significant concern over the transition. Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and Sharp County emergency management director Kanyon Matheny noted that FEMA typically reimburses 75% of recovery costs, while states cover only 25%. They warned that shifting this burden would deplete resources for long-term infrastructure restoration. Opposition also includes Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, who previously saw a major disaster declaration request denied by the administration following fatal storms in 2025. A recent FEMA report supports these concerns, indicating many state agencies are currently underfunded and understaffed.
