United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently spoke on President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget, specifically on the proposed budget increase for the US Department of Homeland Security. This change brings concerns surrounding significant cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In increasing the requested funding for the Department of Homeland Security to $175 billion, a $44 billion jump from the prior year, FEMA’s ability to conduct disaster response is in question.
Officials are now navigating how to shift responsibilities to state and local communities that may now lack federal resources. Noem responded that the President believes in dramatic reforms to FEMA, meaning a larger emphasis on local government response to serve people. This rebrand in narrowing the agency’s role in disaster response could mean eliminating funding for long-term rebuilding, abolishing the council, and freezing grant programs that aid in preparing for disasters.
During recent congressional questioning, Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (PDP, D) of Puerto Rico pressed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on whether Puerto Rico will receive Federal Emergency Management Agency funds that had already been obligated. Noem declined to confirm the release of those funds but acknowledged that FEMA had failed to meet its commitments to Puerto Rico and agreed that the territory was not at fault.
This issue becomes increasingly relevant as hurricane season is underway, and these cuts affect communities’ disaster preparedness. FEMA spends billions in recovery efforts for individuals across states and territories; this spending has skyrocketed in recent years as natural disasters have worsened due to climate change.
However, as of April 2025, territories such as Puerto Rico have been directly impacted as FEMA loses funding. The agency recently announced the termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program and the cancellation of all applications from 2020 to 2023. FEMA further states, “If grant funds have not been distributed to states, tribes, territories, and local communities, funds will be immediately returned either to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury.”
In particular, the Puerto Rico Agricultural Extension Service had proposed community building through workshops on soil stabilization to educate those affected by landslides. Another project aimed to raise awareness on land use and emphasize following proper building regulations. Both projects were cancelled, and “In total, the Puerto Rican government could lose more than $4.7 million under BRIC.”Officials are continuing to examine the implications of this budget on FEMA to provide efficient aid. Kristi Noem is outspoken on her plans to eliminate FEMA; however, the role of FEMA in federal response to natural disasters remains uncertain as the agency continues to undergo revision.
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