Government Watchdog Answers Senator Kim’s Call, Releases Report Finding Gaps in FEMA Response Capabilities Following Trump’s Attacks

The Government Accountability Office report finds: “Recent workforce reductions may exacerbate existing workforce challenges and impact federal agencies’ capacity to respond to future high-impact disasters.”
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today, legislative watchdog agency the Government Accountability Office (GAO), released a report previously requested bySenator Andy Kim (D-NJ)assessing thereadiness of the federal workforce involved in the nation’s disaster response, including FEMA. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ subcommittee that includes oversight of FEMA, Senator Kim is highlighting GAO’s findings that recent workforce reductions at FEMA threaten to exacerbate staffing shortages and leave the agency underequipped to fulfill its mission to respond to disasters and support impacted communities.
“As FEMA is being called to help communities through more and more disasters across the nation, the Trump administration has left the agency with fewer resources than ever. The staffing and resource gaps are damning and could cost lives,”said Senator Kim.“This report further confirms that we need serious reforms to our nation’s disaster response. The answer can’t be to rip help away from communities as Secretary Noem is trying to do but to bolster FEMA with the resources and support it needs to best succeed.”
On June 30th, Senator Kim sent aletter to GAO Comptroller General Dodaro,specifically requesting the GAO, “conduct a review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) readiness for the 2025 hurricane season.” The letter cited the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters is creating significant concerns about FEMA’s capacity to prepare for and respond to these events.
Key findings of the GAO’s “Disaster Assistance High-Risk Series: Federal Response Workforce Readiness” report include:
Read the full report onlinehere.
Senator Kim has remained committed to supporting and uplifting the importance of FEMA’s life-saving operations and in the wake of the Trump administration’s attacks on the agency, has worked toensure FEMA has a qualified and experienced administratorleading its emergency and disaster response. In July, the Senatorsent two letterspressing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for answers on how FEMA is able to fulfill its mission on behalf of the American people. In a previousletter, Senator Kim also demanded Secretary Noem uphold her commitment to provide FEMA’s completed 2025 hurricane response plan. This came after a committee hearing in June where Senator Kimpressed on the critical need for this planand the Department of Homeland Security’s central and critically important mission to respond to natural disasters. The Senator also has demanded the Trump administration reinstate FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and not cancel critical grant funding it provides for local disaster mitigation.

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