History of FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, plays a central role in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation across the United States, making its funding, staffing, and organizational structure critical to community resilience. This policy brief examines current changes to FEMA, the risks of reduced federal disaster capacity, and policy options for strengthening prevention, individual assistance, staffing, and youth-focused disaster preparedness.
Published on
September 23, 2026
by
Zaina Nasir, Rishya Vemireddy, Jaslene Szeto, Orlyola Tantchou, Maiya Olsen