Disaster Relief
Donald Trump’s record on disaster response and emergency management—along with the sweeping goals outlined in the Project 2025 policy agenda—raises serious concerns about the future of agencies like FEMA and the National Weather Service (NWS). As president, Trump denied federal aid for disasters including Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Matthew, and more recently refused funding for tornado damage in Arkansas, urging states to handle such crises on their own. His administration has shown a pattern of sidelining experts: Trump’s acting FEMA chief, Cameron Hamilton, was removed after opposing the agency’s elimination, and his newly appointed FEMA head admitted to being unaware of the U.S. hurricane season. The Trump-era FEMA also drew criticism for using California wildfires as a political photo op rather than prioritizing aid. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has suffered staffing instability, with employees laid off and later rehired, weather balloon programs defunded, and Spanish-language alerts withheld, reducing the reach and accuracy of forecasts. Project 2025 threatens to accelerate this erosion of public safety infrastructure, placing millions of Americans at greater risk from climate-driven disasters.
Trump politicized Hurricane Helene, which devastated Western North Carolina.
Trump wants to force states to be responsible for disaster repair costs.
The Trump administration has denied North Carolina’s request for full federal funding to support Hurricane Helene recovery, reversing a Biden-era policy that allowed 100% federal cost-sharing for disaster cleanup. FEMA, under acting Administrator David Richardson, stated that extending full cost coverage was "not warranted," meaning North Carolina will now have to cover a significant portion of the costs itself. Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that hit in September 2024, caused record flooding and over 230 deaths—72 in Buncombe County alone. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein criticized the denial, saying it would cost the state hundreds of millions and hamper rebuilding efforts.
It’s been nearly a year, and republicans forced Helene aid into a bill that also includes funding for school choice and other republican-backed legislation
A recently passed 131-page North Carolina omnibus bill included limited aid for victims of Hurricane Helene but primarily focused on expanding private school vouchers. The bill allocates $463.5 million to fund vouchers for 54,000 students, doubling private school attendance. Critics argue this disproportionately benefits white students and undermines public education.
An investigation by ProPublica found many North Carolina private schools receiving state funds are effectively modern-day “segregation academies”, with overwhelmingly white student bodies. The bill also includes $500,000 to market private schools, while public schools receive no equivalent support.
The right ran a disinformation campaign that FEMA wasn’t helping
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell strongly pushed back against false claims by Donald Trump regarding federal hurricane recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene, calling the misinformation “disappointing” and harmful. Trump falsely alleged that there were “no helicopters, no rescue” in North Carolina and that FEMA was only giving $750 to victims. Criswell clarified that: FEMA is active on the ground, even if not always visibly present, the $750 payment is an initial relief amount, with more aid to follow based on assessed needs. Such disinformation undermines trust in government and demoralizes first responders working tirelessly.
Then-president Joe Biden also condemned the misinformation, calling it “un-American” and saying it causes unnecessary fear and panic among already traumatized victims. Criswell warned that bad actors are misrepresenting FEMA programs, potentially discouraging people from applying for help, further worsening the crisis.
Trump denied Hurricane Matthew aid for North Carolina during his first term.
Trump approved less than 1% of the aid that was asked for
In 2017, North Carolina requested $929 million in federal aid to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Matthew, but the Trump administration approved only $6.1 million—less than 1% of what was asked for. Governor Roy Cooper expressed "shock and disappointment" over the decision, calling it an "incredible failure" to support families still struggling to rebuild homes, businesses, and public infrastructure across eastern North Carolina. Cooper's request, made in collaboration with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, included funding for housing repairs, agriculture losses, small businesses, public facilities, and health services.
States Need Federal Funding for Disaster Relief
Although the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) previously allocated $198.5 million, and North Carolina's congressional delegation claimed over $300 million in total aid had been secured, the specific unmet needs request for nearly a billion dollars was largely denied. Local residents and volunteers emphasized that, despite the time that had passed, federal assistance was still urgently needed. Cooper invited President Trump and other officials to visit affected areas to witness the ongoing hardship firsthand.
Trump’s acting FEMA chief, Cameron Hamilton, was dismissed for saying he doesn’t think FEMA should be eliminated
Cameron Hamilton, the acting head of FEMA appointed by Donald Trump, was fired and escorted out of FEMA headquarters just one day after publicly opposing the administration’s push to dismantle the agency. During congressional testimony, Hamilton defended FEMA, praising its workforce and arguing that eliminating it would not serve the American people—directly contradicting President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who have repeatedly called the agency inefficient and advocated for its termination. Hamilton instead proposed gradual reform, suggesting FEMA focus only on the most severe disasters while states handle smaller emergencies. His dismissal underscores internal conflict within the administration over FEMA’s future and follows reports that Hamilton and other officials were subjected to polygraph tests, apparently related to concerns over media leaks and dissent.
New FEMA head states that he didn’t know about the US Hurricane Season
FEMA staff were left confused and concerned after newly appointed agency head David Richardson remarked during a June 2 briefing—just the second day of hurricane season—that he was unaware the U.S. even has a hurricane season. Though DHS later claimed it was a joke, the comment raised serious doubts about Richardson’s fitness to lead, particularly as he lacks any disaster response experience. His reversal on a promised disaster response strategy, deep staffing cuts, and the Trump administration’s stated goal of downsizing or eliminating FEMA have only heightened internal uncertainty and external criticism. Top Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Bennie Thompson, called Richardson unqualified, especially amid forecasts for a particularly severe season. A former Marine and DHS official, Richardson replaced Cameron Hamilton, who was ousted after speaking out against dismantling FEMA. Since Trump’s return to office, about one-third of FEMA’s full-time workforce has departed, further undermining the agency’s capacity to respond to disasters.
The National Weather Service is reducing weather balloon launches, making forecasts less accurate.
Staffing and Funding Cuts are to Blame
The National Weather Service (NWS) has suspended or reduced weather balloon launches at over ten sites across the U.S. due to staffing cuts initiated by the Trump administration. These balloons, launched twice daily for decades, carry radiosondes that measure critical atmospheric data such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed. This data feeds into weather models that underpin forecasts across the country. With fewer launches, particularly in weather-sensitive regions like the Rockies and the High Plains, meteorologists warn that forecast accuracy will decline, especially during severe weather events.
Loss of Early Atmospheric Data
Experts say the reductions come at a critical time, with the U.S. entering spring and summer months when tornadoes and storms are more common. The areas losing balloon launches often sit at the origins of storm systems that travel eastward, meaning the loss of early atmospheric data could compromise the ability to predict severe weather downstream. Forecasting complex transitions, such as snow turning to freezing rain, will also become more uncertain without the high-resolution vertical data that only weather balloons provide.
Private Companies Cannot Replace NOAA
These cuts are part of a broader downsizing of federal science agencies under the Trump administration. NOAA, which oversees the NWS, has seen hundreds of job cuts and a proposed budget that would eliminate or reduce funding for many of its core research functions. While private companies like WindBorne are attempting to help fill in data gaps—offering NOAA free access to some of their balloon data—they acknowledge they cannot replace NOAA’s comprehensive public service role.
Degrades Forecast Quality
The overall reduction in balloon launches, which have declined by about 15% in recent years, is expected to slowly degrade forecast quality. Although most everyday users may not immediately notice the difference on weather apps, meteorologists caution that more unexpected weather outcomes are likely. The move has sparked concern across the scientific community, as reduced data collection threatens both public safety and long-term climate and weather research.
Trump urges states to manage natural disasters after denying funding for Arkansas tornado damage.
Only for the most catastrophic events
President Donald Trump’s administration is shifting disaster aid responsibility away from the federal government and onto the states, marking a major change in emergency response policy. Under this approach, FEMA has denied federal assistance for recent disasters in Arkansas (tornadoes), West Virginia (flooding), Washington state (windstorm), and North Carolina (Hurricane Helene recovery), even when state officials asserted that all criteria for aid were met. The administration has stated that federal disaster assistance will be reserved for only the most catastrophic events, such as major hurricanes or large-scale terrorist attacks. According to Trump’s National Security Council, states should “own the problem” by investing in preparedness, maintaining reserve funds, and managing routine emergencies without expecting help from FEMA. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has backed Trump’s push to shrink or eliminate FEMA entirely, reinforcing this more decentralized approach.
Without funding, recovery efforts will stall, hurting communities
Critics argue that the abrupt policy shift upends decades of disaster response norms and leaves states financially vulnerable, especially as disasters grow more frequent and severe due to climate change. Leaders from both parties have voiced frustration with the lack of clear criteria and poor communication from FEMA, demanding more transparency about what qualifies for aid. Local officials warn that, without federal assistance, recovery efforts will stall and communities will face prolonged suffering. Many view the new policy as not only fiscally reckless but also morally negligent, particularly in underserved areas that lack the resources to recover on their own.
Trump unnecessarily released reservoir water in the central valley of California.
Trump created the false impression that he was helping Los Angeles
In February 2025, President Donald Trump ordered the release of billions of gallons of water from two federal reservoirs in California’s Central Valley—Lake Kaweah and Lake Success—bypassing normal protocols and alarming water officials. The move, widely seen as a political stunt, was intended to create the false impression that Trump was delivering water to Los Angeles and aiding farmers, despite expert consensus that the release had no practical benefit and wasted valuable irrigation resources. The reservoirs are not connected to LA’s water system, and the release occurred during winter, when irrigation is unnecessary. Water experts, local authorities, and policy analysts warned that the decision risked flooding, squandered resources, and failed to help Central Valley agriculture, contradicting Trump’s claims.
"Ridiculous Blunder"
Trump’s actions drew criticism even from some of his rural supporters in the region—an area that typically backs him politically—and were labeled a “ridiculous blunder” by water experts, who emphasized the lack of grounding in sound water management policy. While Trump’s direct authority over California’s water is limited, the incident was seen as a symbolic assertion of federal control in a state he frequently criticizes. Observers noted that he may seek greater influence through federal disaster aid and funding leverage, particularly following California’s devastating wildfires. Ironically, despite their political rivalry, Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom may find rare common ground in expanding water infrastructure projects like the controversial Delta Conveyance. Still, experts warn that Trump’s misinformation and impulsive actions threaten to further destabilize California’s already strained water system, which is increasingly vulnerable due to climate change, legal battles, and rising demand.
The National Weather Service will no longer give weather alerts in Spanish
The National Weather Service (NWS) has paused all non-English emergency alerts and translations due to a contract lapse, just months before the 2025 hurricane season, affecting critical services for communities that rely on translated warnings—particularly in cities like Houston, where nearly half the population speaks a language other than English. The pause halts AI-generated translations into languages such as Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Samoan, and French, which NWS began using in late 2023 to replace time-consuming manual translation. Community groups like Woori Juntos and FIEL have raised serious concerns, arguing that reliance on AI is inadequate and potentially dangerous during disasters, and calling for renewed investment in human-led translation services. They warn the decision leaves immigrant and non-English-speaking residents vulnerable, especially given past storms like Hurricane Beryl, which exposed communication gaps. The suspension also highlights broader issues under the Trump administration, including federal job cuts that have left many NWS offices understaffed, raising deeper concerns about disaster preparedness and equitable communication for marginalized communities.
The Department of Defense will stop providing crucial satellite weather data used in hurricane forecasting.
Reduce accuracy of hurricane forecasts
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will stop providing critical satellite weather data that hurricane forecasters and climate scientists have relied on for over 40 years. This data, processed by the Navy's Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, has been crucial for tracking storm development, predicting intensification, and monitoring sea ice in real time. The sudden cutoff—effective June 30—will create gaps in coverage that could reduce the accuracy of hurricane forecasts and limit scientists' ability to monitor shrinking sea ice amid record-low levels in 2025. The decision, attributed to unspecified cybersecurity concerns rather than funding cuts, affects six key datasets.
No Real-time monitoring
Forecasters say the loss of this data could be dangerous, especially as rapidly intensifying storms become more common due to climate change. While NOAA claims it can still provide accurate forecasts using alternative sources like NASA and international satellites, experts warn that real-time monitoring will be harder without the DoD’s assets. Scientists tracking sea ice are scrambling to switch to a Japanese satellite system ahead of schedule, facing a rushed and labor-intensive transition. The loss comes just as the Arctic hits historically low sea ice levels, further complicating global climate monitoring.