As Texas battles the aftermath of this month’s devastating floods and rainstorms—which have tragically claimed over 120 lives—former insiders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are sounding the alarm. They warn that the agency is dangerously overstretched and underfunded, leaving the nation exposed if more disasters strike.
A wave of resignations, crumbling morale, and the departure of experienced leadership has left America’s primary disaster-relief force struggling ahead of what’s expected to be a deadly hurricane season.
According to Michael Coen, FEMA’s former chief of staff, the agency’s deteriorating condition—fueled by Trump-era grant cuts and a major loss of institutional knowledge—could leave it crippled if it’s forced to respond to multiple disasters at once.
“They know they’re operating with fewer resources—less funding, lapsed contracts. They’re trying to plan wisely to handle more than one event at the same time,” Coen explained.
But that task may be near impossible. Since Donald Trump took office, around 2,000 FEMA employees have exited through retirements or resignations. That exodus may have gutted FEMA’s capacity to handle the widespread chaos that comes with back-to-back hurricanes or simultaneous catastrophes.
“I’m genuinely concerned,” Coen said. “FEMA simply doesn’t have the firepower to deal with two or three major disasters at once.”
The agency, Coen added, is fast approaching a budget crisis. With no supplemental funding request sent to Congress, FEMA could run out of disaster response funds by the end of the month.
Currently, FEMA is on the ground in Texas providing urban search and rescue support. But if a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast or an earthquake rocks the West, the agency will be spread too thin to meet national expectations.
Meanwhile, after repeated attacks on FEMA’s role and effectiveness, Trump appears to be walking back on his earlier stance to abolish the agency. While he previously said FEMA was “not good” and should be “phased out,” the White House now signals a softer tone.
According to The Washington Post, FEMA may instead undergo a “rebranding” rather than full elimination, shifting more responsibility to state-level emergency management.
Still, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—who oversees FEMA—remains intent on reshaping the agency. After chairing a review panel, Noem stated FEMA would be “eliminated as it exists today” and rebuilt into a more responsive unit, though she stopped short of calling for its complete dismantlement.
Coen argues the Texas floods prove FEMA’s critical role. “This disaster highlights exactly why FEMA is necessary. When states are overwhelmed, the federal government must step in to support communities in their most desperate moments.”
But FEMA’s ability to help has already been weakened by Trump-era grant cuts. Coen believes the lack of mitigation funding may have led to avoidable deaths in hard-hit areas like Guadalupe River.
“One of the programs slashed was Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC),” Coen said. “That program would’ve funded critical tools—like siren systems along rivers in places like Kerr County. Those sirens might have saved lives.”
He warned that without adequate mitigation funding, future disasters could prove even deadlier, especially for communities that lack the resources to protect themselves.
The damage to FEMA goes beyond dollars—it’s also about people and morale. A former FEMA mid-level official said staff fled because they felt disrespected and unappreciated by the new administration.
“Top leadership has been gutted,” the former employee said. “People who were essential during hurricane season—like Tony Robinson, FEMA’s regional head in Texas, and his deputy—are gone. Robert Samaan, who oversaw the hurricane-prone southeast, also resigned.”
“These weren’t just names on paper,” the official added. “They were key pillars of FEMA’s leadership. Now? Their departure has left a leadership vacuum. It’s like LinkedIn is a graveyard of former FEMA staffers.”
Shockingly, 16 senior executives left on the same day in May, further crippling FEMA’s chain of command.
Morale has also taken a hit under acting administrator David Richardson, a former marine artillery officer with zero disaster management experience. His appointment raised eyebrows when he claimed he “didn’t know there was a hurricane season” during a staff meeting—a statement that left some staff unsure whether it was a joke or pure ignorance.
Richardson replaced Cameron Hamilton, who was ousted after opposing FEMA’s abolition in a congressional hearing. Since taking over, Richardson has issued intimidating warnings to staff, reportedly saying: “I speak for FEMA. I’ll run right over anyone who resists reforms.”
Coen says employees aren’t just fleeing because of policy—they’re leaving because of fear and mental burnout. “They’re sacrificing so much during disasters, and when they don’t feel supported by leadership, it affects their mental health and well-being.”
Meanwhile, Noem has come under fire for issuing a directive requiring any expenditure over $100,000 to get her personal sign-off. Critics say this bureaucratic chokehold could delay emergency response, even cost lives.
“Before Trump, those decisions were made at much lower levels to allow rapid mobilization,” a former official said. “Now, centralizing power like that is not just reckless—it’s dangerous. It’s the kind of bottleneck that can literally mean the difference between life and death.”
In response to the criticism, the Department of Homeland Security defended the directive, claiming it ensures “accountability” and helps prevent “waste, fraud, and abuse” of taxpayer money.