Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Aug 26: In a strongly worded public letter, over 180 current and former employees of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have warned that recent leadership and policy decisions are severely weakening the agency’s ability to respond to disasters — potentially paving the way for a catastrophe on the scale of Hurricane Katrina.

The letter, titled "Katrina Declaration and Petition to Congress", was released on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and directly criticizes the Trump administration for what signatories describe as "dismantling cuts" and "devastating attacks" on FEMA’s core programmes and operations.

The authors expressed alarm over FEMA being led since January 2025 by individuals who they claim lack the necessary legal qualifications, Senate confirmation, and professional experience traditionally required of a FEMA Administrator.

“These decisions erode the agency’s operational capacity, delay emergency response efforts, and have driven out experienced staff whose institutional knowledge is critical,” the letter stated.

Among the key concerns raised were the scaling back of risk-reduction programs, political interference in preparedness initiatives, censorship of climate science, and a significant reduction in FEMA’s disaster workforce — with about one-third of full-time employees reportedly having left the agency.

Signatories urged Congress to take urgent action, including elevating FEMA to a cabinet-level independent agency, protecting employees from politically motivated dismissals, enforcing merit-based hiring practices, and demanding transparency regarding future staff and program reductions.

The letter was addressed to the FEMA Review Council and sent to various Congressional committees. Notably, 146 of the 181 signatories chose to remain anonymous, citing a “culture of fear and suppression” within the agency under the current administration.

Framed as a warning, the letter underscores what the authors view as a growing risk to national disaster readiness — a warning echoed on the poignant anniversary of one of the deadliest and most costly disasters in US history.