Donald Trump and shadow President Elon Musk have picked their next target: gutting FEMA right before hurricane season while communities across the country are already waiting for tens of millions of dollars in critically needed relief. Rather than focusing on communities ravaged by devastating natural disasters, Trump and Musk are instead slashing emergency relief to pay for another round of handouts for the ultra-wealthy. Once again, Trump is putting his billionaire backers’ bottom line ahead of the needs of the American people.  

Here’s a look at how Trump and Musk are gutting federal emergency management: 

New York Times: “Musk Targeted FEMA. Storm-Battered Communities Are Paying a Price.”

“In southeastern Michigan, communities hit by devastating floods two years ago are waiting for federal money to cover the cost of rebuilding. … 

“It is not clear what government agencies, if any, would take over FEMA’s role delivering aid to communities hit by disasters. … 

“[NC small co-op utility] got approved for an expedited grant under FEMA’s public assistance program in early February, according to Jeff Loven, the co-op’s general manager and CEO. It was supposed to get $9 million by the middle of last month, he added, but was still waiting for the money as of Wednesday afternoon. … 

“But [Compass 82 Executive Director Susan] Marticek said she is still waiting on about $1.3 million in reimbursements, for work done in November, December and January. Without that money, she said she expects she’ll need to start laying off staff in two or three months — just as hurricane season starts. 

“Pacific Gateway Center, a nonprofit in Hawaii that helps survivors of the 2023 Lahaina wildfire get back on their feet, last got money from FEMA in December, according to its executive director, Matthew Johnson. He had expected additional reimbursements to come early this year, but as of Wednesday that money had not yet arrived. He estimated that his group can hold out for maybe one or two months before it starts cutting case workers. …

“Michigan’s state emergency management agency was waiting on $112 million in funds … Maryland’s emergency management department was waiting for $81 million in frozen FEMA grants as of Wednesday”

Politico: “New Noem plan leaves FEMA on the chopping block” 

“Noem told Trump administration officials in a meeting Tuesday at Department of Homeland Security headquarters that she wants to eliminate FEMA’s role in funding long-term rebuilding efforts and halt multibillion-dollar grant programs that help communities prepare for disasters. … 

“The meeting … occurred one day after Noem said publicly that ‘we’re going to eliminate FEMA.’” 

Washington Post: “Trump officials working to strip FEMA’s role in disaster recovery by Oct. 1” 

“[A] number of possibilities were floated to strip FEMA of some of its key functions, such as helping rebuild after disasters strike and, according to one person, funding resilience initiatives that help communities prepare for disasters. … 

“The closed-door push to abolish or substantially cut FEMA’s authorities … comes barely two months ahead of the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. …

“FEMA reimburses state and local governments for much of the cost of disaster response and recovery. Without that federal money, governments may need to raid their budgets for education, health care and other areas in order to pay for emergency response — and even then might struggle to cope with mounting disasters.” 

CNN: “‘We’re not preparing’: As Trump officials vow to eliminate FEMA, the agency is already in turmoil” 

“Last week, FEMA employees received an email titled ‘Hiring Update,’ which outlined a new process, effective immediately, requiring that the majority of the agency’s workers, many of whom hold 2-to-4-year term positions, be directly approved by Secretary Noem’s team in order to be renewed for another term. …

“Instead of preparing for hurricane season, one official told CNN, they’ve spent days checking workers’ renewal dates and working on justifications for their roles. … 

“More than $100 billion of previously awarded grant money and disaster assistance is currently frozen at FEMA. …

“Nearly all FEMA payments outside of individual disaster assistance have been paused, preventing states, localities and nonprofits from being reimbursed. That includes entities like fire departments that are frequently awarded federal grants to pay for equipment and staffing as well as disaster recovery money to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the wildfires in California.”