Local EMA directors said they aren’t exactly sure how handing emergency response over to the states will change things.

Experts have raised concerns about the administration’s calls to gut the agency, noting that it could leave vulnerable communities without adequate resources or coordination after a disaster.

During the 2024 presidential election, Trump criticized FEMA and the Biden administration’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Republican repeated misinformation online and in campaign rallies about what type of federal assistance those affected by storms were eligible to receive.