FEMA Employees Warn Trump Administration Has Ignored Lessons Of Hurricane Katrina

In a "Katrina Declaration," dozens of FEMA employees warned that the agency is ill-prepared for the next natural disaster.

WASHINGTON ― Dozens of employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency warned Congress on Monday that the Trump administration has betrayed the lessons of Hurricane Katrina.

In an unusual petition to lawmakers, more than 181 FEMA employees, including 35 who publicly signed their names, said the administration has failed to install serious leadership at the agency and improperly held up funding.

“Since January 2025, FEMA has been under the leadership of individuals lacking legal qualifications, Senate approval, and the demonstrated background required of a FEMA Administrator,” the FEMA employees wrote.

“Our shared commitment to our country, our oaths of office, and our mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters compel us to warn Congress and the American people of the cascading effects of decisions made by the current administration.”

Twenty years ago, in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall, flooding New Orleans and resulting in as many as 1,836 deaths, with inexperience and poor planning at FEMA blamed for much of the chaos in the storm’s aftermath. Reforms Congress enacted the following year included a requirement that the FEMA administrator have “demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” and at least five years of executive experience.