Local officials in hurricane-prone states, including Louisiana, are expressing concerns over the Trump administration’s ability to respond to their disaster needs. However, Robert Fenton Jr., FEMA’s interim director, says the agency is adequately staffed with the ability to hire more emergency response workers if needed.

Background

Fenton, who is in New Orleans for the annual Gulf and Atlantic Hurricane Summit, told journalists that FEMA currently has 20,000 employees. Despite this, local officials and former government officials have organized under the banner Sabotaging Our Safety to raise awareness of what they see as the Trump administration’s shortcomings on disaster response.

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, who regulates power and water utilities in the state, expressed concerns over FEMA’s leadership struggles. Rafael Lemaitre, former head of FEMA public affairs under President Barack Obama, also listed a string of high-level departures from FEMA since Trump took office.

Controversy Surrounding FEMA

Critics of the Trump administration have noted the president’s reluctance to grant emergency disaster declarations, which trigger FEMA response and resources to affected areas. States with Democratic leadership are three times less likely to have their application for emergency assistance approved, according to a report.

FEMA has not had a permanent administrator since Trump returned to office. His nominee for the position, Cameron Hamilton, was first made interim leader in January 2025 but was fired five months later for telling Congress he didn’t support the president’s view that FEMA should be dismantled.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.