U.S. Senator Pete Welch (D-VT) is criticizing President Trump’s “handpicked FEMA Review Council” for releasing a report “that would shrink the agency and its ability to help communities when disasters strike.”
[NOTE: Co-chairs of the FEMA Review Council are Trump’s DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Members include MAGA-aligned Texas Governor Greg Abbott and former RNC chairman Michael Whatley, who is running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina (to take retiring incumbent Thom Tillis’ seat), among others.]
According to Welch, the report includes a recommendation that aims to “dissolve the agency’s flood insurance system entirely and steer people to coverage plans from private insurers. Another suggestion would narrow the agency’s short-term housing available after a catastrophe and end long-term assistance to folks who lose their homes.”
After six months of stalling, President Trump’s handpicked FEMA Review Council released a report that would shrink the agency and its ability to help communities when disasters strike.
For instance, instead of building a workforce to tackle future disasters, the panel wants the… pic.twitter.com/HMFcnzSVx7
— Senator Peter Welch (@SenPeterWelch) May 11, 2026
Welch added: “I’ve introduced legislation that would get disaster assistance faster to impacted communities. And the Council did include some commonsense proposals to cut through red tape. But the Trump Administration should be working with us to improve FEMA, not sabotage it.”
[NOTE: President Trump on Monday announced that he’s nominating former FEMA leader Cameron Hamilton to run the agency again. Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, was fired last year after he opposed abolishing the agency, which Trump and then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem considered.]
Outstanding pick by President Trump! Cam Hamilton is a true professional who understands the critical mission of FEMA. This is great news for North Carolina and our ongoing disaster recovery efforts.https://t.co/mMpDgs9rVj
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) April 16, 2026