Unions, Non-Profits, and Local Governments Fight Back Against Noem’s FEMA Firings

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), partnered with nonprofit groups and local governments, filed a supplemental complaint challenging Department of of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s unlawful firing of FEMA staff. 

In response, Sabotaging Our Safety Advisory Council Member Ashley Shelton released the following statement:

“These unions and local governments are doing what Congress has failed to do: hold Kristi Noem accountable for systematically destroying FEMA's ability to protect American communities. Noem's weaponization of the agency is a reminder that under DHS, FEMA is vulnerable to the same political calculations that drive every other Trump administration decision. An independent FEMA would have direct congressional accountability and could not be dismantled by a single secretary on a power trip. Americans deserve disaster response based on need, not political games.” 

Per the complaint, the Trump administration’s decision to “severely reduce FEMA’s staffing levels,” is in violation of congressional protections aimed to defend FEMA’s independence, and could severely limit the agency’s ability to respond to disaster. The filing is part of a broader lawsuit pushing back on the Trump administration’s unlawful downsizing of the federal government. 

Over the past year, Noem has already slashed 20% of FEMA's staff, eliminated $4.6 billion in disaster preparedness funding, and imposed bureaucratic requirements that have caused deadly delays in relief spending. 

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