Latest news with #SarahLabowitz
Axios
16-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
FEMA cuts could devastate Louisiana
Louisiana, Texas and Florida could face the greatest financial burdens in a world with less federal relief assistance, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: President Trump earlier this year floated"fundamentally overhauling or reforming" FEMA, or "maybe getting rid" of it entirely — fueling concerns that U.S. disaster relief could be thrown into chaos just a few months before Atlantic hurricane season starts. The big picture: The tropics have been the focus of the National Hurricane Conference that's happening in New Orleans this week. The gathering comes during uncertain times in the meteorological world, with cuts and changes being made to NOAA and its agencies, including the National Weather Service. Advocates are voicing concerns about reduced forecasting abilities. Between the lines: NOAA and FEMA officials typically attend the conference, but they didn't this year due to travel restrictions, according to The Times-Picayune. Catch up quick: Trump signed an executive order last month that empowers state and local governments to handle disaster readiness and relief. FEMA and other federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, already funnel billions of dollars to individuals and communities. It's unclear how or whether Trump's order might change that, or if it would result in fewer federal dollars for disaster-wracked states. Some FEMA reform advocates call for giving states "block grants" of relief money to spend as they see fit, rather than to meet specific needs — but others worry that would lead to fraud and abuse, or that many states lack the resources and expertise to rebuild without help. By the numbers: Certain states — many of them red — would be hit especially hard by reductions in federal relief funding, per a new analysis from the Carnegie Disaster Dollar Database. Louisiana, for example, received an average of about $1.4 billion annually in FEMA and HUD relief funding from 2015 to 2024, covering 14 disasters. That's equal to 6.3% of the state's approximately $21.9 billion in overall spending in fiscal 2023. Florida received $2.1 billion a year on average during that time, equal to 2.8% of the state's 2023 spending. And Texas got $1.4 billion, equal to 1.8% of its 2023 spending. What they're saying: "Up to now, when there is a disaster, the government responds. They clean up the debris, they rebuild the schools, they run shelters, they clean the drinking water," says Sarah Labowitz of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who led this analysis. "All of that is supported by a federal disaster relief ecosystem that spreads the risk around the country, spreads the costs around the country. And if we stop spreading the costs around the country, then it's going to fall on states, and it's going to fall on states really unevenly." State of play: "I think we're all in agreement about [FEMA] reform, but let's do it smartly and be able at the same time to complete the mission," Pete Gaynor, who ran FEMA for about two years during Trump's first term, tells Axios. Part of FEMA's utility, Gaynor says, is directing not just money but people, including relief experts who can be dispatched to states as needed after disaster strikes. But he's concerned about an exodus of FEMA staffers, in part tied to Trump's broader purge of federal workers. More than 200 of FEMA's 20,000-plus staffers have been fired, NPR reports. "Where does this goal of reform stop before it's too late and you lose these capabilities that have been critical over time?" Gaynor says. "There has been and will continue to be a departure of [senior leaders] that have been at FEMA for 25-30 years, experts at everything — they leave, and you have a freeze on hiring, or you instill fear into the workforce, that's going to hurt."
Axios
25-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
What Texas could lose if Trump cuts FEMA
Texas could face greater financial burdens than most other states if President Trump slashes federal resources for disaster relief, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: Trump floated"fundamentally overhauling or reforming" FEMA, or "maybe getting rid" of it entirely — fueling concerns that U.S. disaster relief could be thrown into chaos. By the numbers: Texas would be hit especially hard by reductions in federal relief funding, according to the Carnegie Disaster Dollar Database. The state received an average of about $1.4 billion a year in FEMA and HUD relief funding from 2015 to 2024, covering 16 disasters. That's equal to 1.8% of Texas' approximate $79 billion in overall spending in fiscal year 2023. Zoom in: Last year, FEMA doled out about $1.2 billion in Houston to help with recovery from Hurricane Beryl and a separate severe windstorm. HUD spent another $938 million total for both events. It's not just coastal cities at risk — residents in more than 100 Texas counties, including Bexar, qualified for FEMA aid after the deadly 2021 winter storm. The state received $43.6 million in federal assistance. Separately, FEMA in the past has reimbursed some costs of operating San Antonio's Migrant Resource Center. It has a pending $13.2 million reimbursement that the Trump administration is keeping until the city provides details about "activities" at the now-shuttered center. The city says it plans on providing the information. Driving the news: Trump is reportedly mulling an executive order empowering state and local governments to handle disaster readiness and relief, and he has already created a "FEMA review council." FEMA and other federal agencies funnel billions of dollars to people and communities affected by disasters, ranging from building and infrastructure assistance to financial and direct services for households. It's unclear how or whether Trump's order could change that. What they're saying: "Up to now, when there is a disaster, the [federal] government responds," says Sarah Labowitz of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Labowitz leads the spending database.
Axios
25-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
States that could suffer without FEMA include Georgia
Some of the most disaster-prone areas in Georgia could face the greatest financial burdens in a world with less federal assistance, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: President Trump this year floated"fundamentally overhauling or reforming" FEMA or "maybe getting rid" of it — fueling concerns that U.S. disaster relief could be thrown into chaos. The coastal and southern corners of Georgia that see hurricanes and tornadoes have used significant FEMA funding, including $614.7 million in response to 2024's Hurricanes Debby and Helene. Driving the news: Trump signed an executive order last week to shift disaster readiness to state and local governments. FEMA and other federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, already funnel billions of dollars to individuals and communities. It's unclear how or whether Trump's order might change disaster funding, or whether it would result in fewer federal dollars for disaster-wracked areas in Georgia. Friction point: Some FEMA reform advocates call for giving states "block grants" of relief money to spend as they see fit, rather than to meet specific needs — but others worry that would lead to fraud and abuse, or that many states lack the resources and expertise to rebuild without help. By the numbers: Georgia received $1.9 billion in FEMA and HUD relief funding from September 2003 to January 2025, covering 22 disasters, per a new analysis from the Carnegie Disaster Dollar Database. State of play: Farmers in Georgia and other states are still waiting for the federal government to make available roughly $21 billion in aid related to Hurricane Helene. Zoom in: Georgia's 1st, 8th and 12th Congressional Districts received $50.3 million, $84.6 million and $155.8 million in FEMA dollars sent to more than 380,000 individuals and households from 2021-2025, according to the database. Georgia's 5th Congressional District, which includes Atlanta, received $5.1 million. What they're saying: When disasters occur, the federal government helps clean up, shelter people and provide water, says Sarah Labowitz of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who led the analysis.
Axios
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Areas that could suffer without FEMA include Detroit
Some of the most disaster-prone areas could face the greatest financial burdens in a world with less federal relief assistance, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: President Trump earlier this year floated"fundamentally overhauling or reforming" FEMA or "maybe getting rid" of it entirely — fueling concerns that U.S. disaster relief could be thrown into chaos. With their infrastructure challenges, Detroit and Southeast Michigan have utilized significant FEMA funding, including $433 million in response to the August 2023 tornadoes and flooding — though that figure also includes mid-Michigan counties. Driving the news: Trump signed an executive order last week to shift disaster readiness to state and local governments. FEMA and other federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), already funnel billions of dollars to individuals and communities. Detroit recently got nearly $347 million from HUD to prevent basement flooding from storms. It's unclear how or whether Trump's order might change disaster funding, or whether it would result in fewer federal dollars for disaster-wracked areas like Detroit. Friction point: Some FEMA reform advocates call for giving states "block grants" of relief money to spend as they see fit, rather than to meet specific needs — but others worry that would lead to fraud and abuse, or that many states lack the resources and expertise to rebuild without help. Zoom in: Michigan's 12th and 13th congressional districts, which both include Detroit, had $257 million and $315 million in FEMA dollars sent to more than 200,000 individuals and households from 2021-2025, per a new analysis from the Carnegie Disaster Dollar Database. What they're saying: When disasters occur, the federal government helps clean up, shelter people and provide water, says Sarah Labowitz of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who led the analysis. "All of that is supported by a federal disaster relief ecosystem that spreads the risk around the country, spreads the costs around the country. And if we stop spreading the costs around the country, then it's going to fall on states, and it's going to fall on states really unevenly."
Axios
20-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
How a FEMA transformation could impact North Carolina
North Carolina's reputation as one of the most disaster-prone states means it could face an outsized impact if the federal government transforms how it provides disaster relief assistance. Why it matters: In a visit to western North Carolina this year, President Trump floated"fundamentally overhauling or reforming" FEMA, or "maybe getting rid" of it — fueling concerns that U.S. disaster relief could be thrown into chaos just a few months before another hurricane season spins up. Changes to the program could burden a state already plagued by a painfully slow response to hurricanes that have ravaged it in recent years. Driving the news: Hurricane Helene is estimated to have left close to $60 billion in damages in its wake, per North Carolina's Office of State Budget and Management. The state failed to appoint a "disaster recovery coordinator" to work with the federal government, the Washington Post reported, and six months after the disaster, the state and federal government have funneled just a fraction of the cost of the damages into the region. It's unclear how the elimination or overhaul of FEMA could impact the speed or amount of federal dollars dispersed to disaster-ridden states, but with a long road to Helene recovery ahead, the state is still struggling to rebuild homes after hurricanes Matthew and Florence, which ripped through the state years ago. How it works: FEMA and other federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), already funnel billions of dollars to individuals and communities. It's unclear how or whether Trump's vision might change that, or if it would result in fewer federal dollars for disaster-wracked states. Some FEMA reform advocates call for giving states "block grants" of relief money to spend as they see fit, rather than to meet specific needs — but others worry that would lead to fraud and abuse, or that many states lack the resources and expertise to rebuild without help. By the numbers: North Carolina is one of the states that would be hit especially hard if the feds change the state's federal relief funding infrastructure, per a new analysis from the Carnegie Disaster Dollar Database. The state received an average of $451.3 million per year in FEMA and HUD relief funding from 2015 to 2024 for 10 disasters—just 1.1% of the state's fiscal year 2023 spending. Zoom out: Louisiana, meanwhile, received an average of about $1.4 billion from 2015 to 2024, covering 14 disasters. That's equal to 6.3% of the state's spending in 2023. Florida got $2.1 billion a year on average during that time, equal to 2.8% of the state's 2023 spending. And Texas got $1.4 billion, equal to 1.8% of its 2023 spending. What they're saying: "Up to now, when there is a disaster, the government responds. They clean up the debris, they rebuild the schools, they run shelters, they clean the drinking water," says Sarah Labowitz of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who led this analysis. "All of that is supported by a federal disaster relief ecosystem that spreads the risk around the country, spreads the costs around the country. And if we stop spreading the costs around the country, then it's going to fall on states, and it's going to fall on states really unevenly." "We as a disaster response sector, certainly we as an agency, need our federal partners," adds Katie Mears, senior technical specialist at Episcopal Relief and Development, the aid and relief wing of the Episcopal Church. "We understand the need for reform, but we can't do this without support from all the different federal players." Friction point: The Trump administration is already using disaster relief as leverage to extract political concessions. HUD Secretary Scott Turner recently blasted the city of Asheville's draft proposal for $225 million for Hurricane Helene relief, which included language about prioritizing assistance for minority- and women-owned businesses. "DEI is dead at HUD," Turner said in a statement. "We will not provide funding to any program or grantee that does not comply with President Trump's executive orders," referring to Trump's January move to dismantle federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The big picture: "I think we're all in agreement about [FEMA] reform, but let's do it smartly and be able at the same time to complete the mission," Pete Gaynor, who ran FEMA for about two years during Trump's first term, tells Axios. Part of FEMA's utility, Gaynor says, is directing not just money but people, including relief experts who can be dispatched to states as needed after disaster strikes. But he's concerned about an exodus of FEMA staffers, in part tied to Trump's broader purge of federal workers. More than 200 of FEMA's 20,000-plus staffers have been fired, NPR reports. "Where does this goal of reform stop before it's too late and you lose these capabilities that have been critical over time?" Gaynor says. "There has been and will continue to be a departure of [senior leaders] that have been at FEMA for 25-30 years, experts at everything — they leave, and you have a freeze on hiring, or you instill fear into the workforce, that's going to hurt." "And you know who it's going to hurt first? It's going to hurt the disaster survivor — that's where it hurts." What's next: "We really need to be proactive in making sure that we lay down some principles that reform should follow to make sure the result is positive," Gaynor says.
