FEMA warns its national emergency functions are “significantly constrained” during shutdown days before State of the Union, with continuity staff furloughed and disaster work frozen.
Trump approves FEMA emergency disaster relief for Washington after a Potomac River sewage line collapse that the city estimates will cost $20 million to repair and remediate.
DHS halts FEMA disaster travel during shutdown despite Stafford Act funding, requiring headquarters approval for staff responding to 14 active disaster declarations from last month’s winter storms.
DC Mayor Bowser declares state of emergency over Potomac sewage spill and requests federal disaster declaration, after meeting with White House staff and EPA about the weeks-long ecological crisis.
DHS halts terminations of FEMA disaster workers as massive winter storm approaches, hours after staff were escorted out during Noem’s tour of headquarters.
FEMA says 50% workforce reduction figure was “included in error” in leaked internal plan, but officials confirm administration discussing major cuts for 2026.
DHS begins cutting FEMA disaster response staff on New Year’s Eve, terminating contracts within days as task force prepares recommendation to cut agency workforce in half.
Trump-appointed federal judge orders administration to restore $233 million in disaster funding after 12 attorneys general sued over cuts tied to immigration enforcement.
Levee fails near Seattle five days after county installed emergency flood protection, prompting evacuation warning for 46,000 residents as National Guard deploys.
FEMA releases $314 million in Hurricane Helene recovery funds to Georgia counties after Senator Warnock reported administration still owes state $600 million in promised aid.
Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore $3.6 billion in canceled FEMA disaster mitigation funding after 22 states sued, ruling Congress appropriated the money and “the government must follow the law.”
Trump taps election denier Gregg Phillips to lead FEMA disaster response, 3 years after he was jailed for refusing to produce evidence for voter fraud claims.
Trump denies Chicago disaster aid for two summer storms with damage assessments that historically mean approval, two weeks after saying Illinois officials “should be in jail.”
Acting FEMA chief David Richardson resigns after 7-month tenure overseeing removal of more than third of agency staff.
Trump administration refuses to use $5 billion in available funds to prevent Nov. 1 SNAP cutoff, saying money must be reserved for disasters as 1 in 8 Americans lose food aid.
Trump administration denied Western Maryland’s final FEMA appeal for May flash flood recovery despite $33.7 million in damages exceeding state threshold by nearly 3x.
Typhoon Halong destroyed 90% of homes in one Alaska village and displaced over 2,000 people who cannot return for at least 18 months, as Trump administration cuts to weather monitoring made forecasts less accurate.
EPA canceled $20 million Alaska flood protection grant five months before catastrophic flooding hit Kipnuk, where Lee Zeldin called it wasteful DEI grant despite community’s vulnerability.
GOP-appointed judge accuses Trump administration of violating order barring FEMA conditions tied to immigration enforcement, calling it ham-handed attempt to bully states.
More than 1,000 Western Alaska residents sleep in schools without functioning toilets or water after Sunday storm damaged nearly every home in two villages.
All 21 New Jersey counties remain under state of emergency through Monday as nor’easter brings flooding forecast to exceed Hurricane Erin levels.
DHS orders hundreds of CISA cybersecurity and FEMA staff to immigration enforcement with one week to accept or face termination, slowing response to active cyber threats including China-linked Cisco vulnerability.
Homeland Security Secretary Noem fast-tracks $11 million for Florida tourist pier after campaign donor intervenes, then dines with him.
A Trump-appointed FEMA chief with no emergency experience was reportedly unreachable for 24 hours during deadly flooding in Texas last summer, hampering the agency’s response.
A George W. Bush-appointed judge rules the Trump administration cannot tie FEMA disaster aid to states’ cooperation on immigration enforcement.
The GAO determined the Trump administration illegally withheld FEMA funds for the homeless for the sixth time this year.
FEMA employees file a formal whistleblower complaint against DHS after being put on leave for warning of disaster unpreparedness.
One of two firefighters arrested by Border Patrol while on duty fighting a wildfire arrived in the U.S. at age 4 and is on a path to legal status.
FEMA extends its hiring freeze just weeks before the peak of hurricane season and months after Trump announced plans to phase out the agency.
DHS bars disaster aid groups from helping undocumented immigrants, reversing a long-standing practice of serving anyone in need regardless of status.
Border Patrol arrests two firefighters at Washington wildfire in rare operation as concerns over federal agents acting at disaster sites resurface.
More than 180 FEMA staff warn Trump’s cuts and unqualified leadership risk another Katrina-scale disaster, speaking out despite 340 EPA employees put on leave for a similar tactic.
DHS stalls $115 million in FEMA-approved Helene aid while Trump-era GOP slashed FEMA and branded it useless during 2024 Helene response.
National Weather Service rehires 450 meteorologists months after DOGE cuts left agency understaffed during hurricane season.
FEMA to deny disaster aid to states and cities that boycott Israeli companies before reversing after backlash.
Trump claims U.S. gave $60 million in Gaza aid but only $3 million has been sent to controversial Israeli-backed foundation.
Defense Dept reverses planned cutoff of crucial hurricane satellite data to NOAA forecasters just before peak Atlantic storm season.
FEMA redirects $600 million from disaster relief to fund state immigrant detention facilities while Trump administration considers shuttering the agency entirely.
Trump denies Maryland flood aid despite FEMA finding communities met federal thresholds after worst Western Maryland flooding in 30 years.
FEMA chief calls Texas flood response a “model” despite Noem policy requiring her personal approval delaying urban rescue teams after 135 people died.
FEMA’s urban search and rescue chief Ken Pagurek resigned after a Kristi Noem policy requiring her personal approval for funding delayed the Texas flood response by 72 hours.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suspends NOAA’s climate-driven rainfall prediction tool development weeks after deadly Texas flooding.
Gov. Hobbs demands federal inquiry after officials chose controlled burn strategy that destroyed historic Grand Canyon Lodge during Arizona’s driest season.
Noem denies New York Times report that her $100,000 contract approval policy delayed FEMA call center renewals during Texas floods that killed 129 people.
FEMA acting administrator Richardson skips response to Texas flooding that killed 120 as DHS Secretary Noem assumes unprecedented disaster leadership role.
Trump calls reporter “evil person” for asking if flood warnings could have saved lives then praises conservative outlet as “nice reporter.”
Commerce Secretary Lutnick calls weather service layoff reports “fake news” while half of all national weather offices operate with 20 percent staff cuts.
House Democrats demand review of whether Trump’s weather service staff cuts delayed flood warnings that could have saved lives.
Noem’s five-day delay renewing call center contracts left FEMA unable to answer two-thirds of flood survivor calls for disaster aid.
