Trump’s FEMA Travel Pause Is The Latest Attack on Disaster Response

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security has imposed a sweeping travel pause on FEMA employees, blocking disaster response personnel from traveling to communities in crisis unless they receive explicit approval from DHS leadership. The abnormal directive prevents FEMA staff from conducting critical site assessments, coordinating with state and local officials, and providing immediate support to disaster-stricken areas. Per the Washington Post, “disaster travel is always allowed because it is mission-critical.” 

“For the sake of Americans in disaster areas, this travel pause must be lifted immediately.FEMA must be removed from Noem's mismanagement and set up as an independent cabinet-level agency before the next major disaster strikes,” said Sabotaging Our Safety Advisory Council Member Rafael Lemaitre. “It’s impossible to protect Americans from disasters while preventing your own disaster response teams from traveling to the communities that need them most.” 

“As severe weather season approaches and communities continue recovering from recent disasters, the travel pause ensures that when the next catastrophe hits, FEMA will be unable to respond with the speed and expertise that saves lives,” added Lemaitre.

This is the latest in a series of devastating actions that have gutted FEMA's capacity and demoralized its workforce. Under Noem's politicization of the agency, FEMA has endured mass firings of disaster response workers, threats of workforce relocations out of Washington D.C., a revolving door of leadership, and constant attacks from the Trump administration.

Sabotaging Our Safety has been demanding FEMA become an independent cabinet-level agency following more than a year of incompetence and politicization and as Noem’s incompetence continues to threaten the lives of American families.