A federal oversight agency has called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enhance its disaster preparedness and response services in a new report. The U.S. Government Accountability Office identified 39 priority recommendations for Homeland Security to implement in May 2025. The department has since implemented five of them.

Disaster Response

The report highlights three areas where improvements are needed to maximize efficiency including disaster response, technology and cybersecurity, and border security policies. The report says fragmentation across disaster response agencies has led to a lack of aid for those experiencing disasters.

State and local officials cited challenges navigating multiple federal recovery programs with differing requirements and time frames; multiple federal authorities; and limited data sharing. The recommendation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to standardize and simplify its disaster responses.

Recommendations

The Government Accountability Office recommended FEMA develop a single online application portal that feeds into one repository, identify recovery outcomes and track progress on those outcomes and develop models to coordinate across disaster recovery programs. No single federal entity or congressional committee oversees disaster recovery as a whole. Establishing an independent commission to recommend disaster recovery reforms could provide Congress and agencies specific actions to improve the federal approach.

The recommendations come after lawmakers in Arizona expressed frustration over FEMA’s denial of an emergency declaration after severe flooding impacted two rural counties in the state in 2025. On July 24, a bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote a letter to President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, demanding an explanation of the denial.

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