Trump said that "maybe FEMA should just go away" and let states handle their own disasters? Are all states capable? Is this fair? Wise? Who suffers?

Question

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

I believe the most FEMA money in recent history goes to Texas, Florida, and Louisiana. State coffers probably not deep enough for that, and would require a steep tax hike to establish and maintain, I’d assume. So all that “no state income tax in Florida” stuff would probably have to go away, and/or the scholarship programs for 75-100% off of tuition to state colleges and universities that I understand that their residents get, I believe just by maintaining a 3.0 GPA in high school. According to an old co-worker, she and her brother went to college for free, thanks to that, as did many, many, many other Floridian students, and it’s all funded by tourism dollars. I’m guessing that would have to go to FloridaEMA in this proposed case…

Can you guys imagine how good the country could be if people just shut the the fuck up and paid their taxes without kicking and screaming, and acting like we’re asking them to sever a limb to maintain infrastructure and GOD FORBID help someone other than themselves out, fellow Americans who you should be ride or die for if they’re as patriotic as they claim to be? It’s like they all have this crippling irrational fear of paying their share, and the boogeyman is just the idea of someone they don’t think worked hard enough for their liking getting even a penny of their tax payment and just makes them completely melt down🤦‍♂️ My money helped a PERSON? This is an OUTRAGE!”.

exitseven · Accepted Answer

Itis complicated. FEMA has shown to be incompetent and ineffective. Even though it had a large budget it seems that they spent most of it shuttling illegal aliens around the country when they should have been helping Americans during natural disasters. Then it was discovered that in Florida FEMA workers were told to ignore any house that had a Trump sign on the front lawn. Clearly the agency was totally mismanaged. The question is should it be scrapped altogether of should there just be a complete change of personnel with a focus on it's intended purpose of helping the public.

northerngal · Accepted Answer

It will lead to Chaos when you need stability. In an emergency you need one central organization leading the response... not 50. Plus each state will never be able to finance an organization like FEMA... it requires all to contribute. Does Kentucky have the resources that a state like Florida has? Of course not. Another silly Trumpian idea.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Accepted Answer

I’m not sure he’s in the best mindset to make decisions. FEMA originally started private and eventually received federal funding for their work iirc and they’re pretty necessary as they’re really the only organization that works at a national level to coordinate with and handle disasters as they happen.

malarkey · Answer

The only states that would suffer are ones that don't play well with with others. For example when North Carolina was hit with floods from Hurricane Helene, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida sent assistance to North Carolina. That sort of thing is pretty common here in the South. One state has a disaster and the neighboring states assist to get everyone rescued and basic service back on within a couple days to a week. That said if you think you're hot shit and you don't need anybody like California you burn for weeks.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

The Constitution doesn’t explicitly say the federal govt must keep citizens safe, but it implies it through clauses like the Preamble (promote general welfare), Article I (tax/spend for general welfare), and the Commerce Clause (regulating interstate issues like disaster recovery).

The Guarantee Clause also promises states protection against crises. While states have responsibilities, federal disaster aid aligns with these principles ignoring disasters while taxing states contradicts their role.

abc3643 · Answer

Yeah, states handling their own disasters... that's what "United We Stand" means, doesn't it? "End FEMA" - right out of the Project 2025 playbook.

Cormac995 · Answer

Yea let's just abandon the majority of the American population whenever there is a natural disaster. It's not like mass death and a state of pain and disarray is going to cause massive fucking problems with the state government, economy, production and reproduction that will negatively effect the whole country.

Ladsin2 · Answer

I'm not sure I understand the distinction you're making between blue and red states. The California wildfires and the lack of insurance coupled with the lack of water being a good example of a blue state that will need FEMA aid. NC and the Hurricane on the red side.

I'm ok with disaster relief and some taxes to build it, but not if the agency is corrupted or the problem was foreseeable and exacerbated by poor governance. In NC FEMA directed it's agents to pass over homes with MAGA signs to deny them access to government funds. In California fires are common and expected. Have been for a century or more. Trump was warning Newsome about it for almost a decade and Newsome lied about what their forest management. This is partially why the insurance companies bailed as I understand it.

hahahmm · Answer

FEMA became a political organization recently and chose not to help people with the "wrong" political beliefs. This happened in Florida and other places. Can't have that. Also California stole 20 billion in covid relief funds. Sounds like the owe the Feds 20 billion to me.

Twalli · Answer

If states take care of themselves, a lot of red states will fail quickly. Blue states offer all the aid they can to red states that are struggling due to disasters. Cut off aid from other states and a large amount of people will realize all the aid they used to rely upon was by others, and not themselves.

Miristheiss · Answer

Well, since they were only helping people WITHOUT Trump signs and moat of their money had already been thrown away on illegal immigrants and Trump has literally been visiting victims that Biden left hanging months ago... it sounds like a ruined, corrupt, wasteful program that needs to be torn down and started from scratch.

AviatorTom · Answer

I'm in favor of a serious review of FEMA, in light if how it has handled recent disasters, and questions about where the money in its budget was spent.

Trump's Executive Order does just that... review FEA and decide if it should be overhauled or eliminated.

onedarkcloud · Answer

Each state knows how to prioritize its needs and the best way to handle a disaster, and it can then ask the FEDS for the monies it deems necessary to fix its damages and rebuild. This way they do not have to deal with assholes that have no idea what is needed in a particular State and location therein and do not have to worry that FEMA will take every available hotel room for themselves leaving the local homeless out in the cold like FEMA did in North Carolina.

Juxtapose · Answer

I just watched him talk to these FEMA people. They are inefficient and require permit on top of permit, they actually prevent people from going to their properties and fixing it themselves in a timely manner. People don't have months and months to wait for this shit, even a week is a really long time.

Government red tape is a big problem.

Tomisworthless · Answer

States can Governor themselves best, He said for Fed to payout est rebuild costs directly to states with excess being returned. No need for a middle to get a cut for providing relief.. But funny given the creation of DOGE yet itself will need funding to operate - which is to CUT Fed excess spending or rather unnecessary spending

Cookingnaked1126 · Answer

FEMA will still get funded, they'll just leave it up to local government as to how and where the money is needed. It might not be called "FEMA" but there will be federal help.

NoDecision · Answer

FEMA - Fuck Every Mother's Ass! They showed their true colors during Helene. People still living in tents.

Likes2drive · Answer

Well since FEMA is federally funded the states don’t have to pay for it but they also don’t get the help right away either so if the states took care of it themselves it would probably happen quicker and they already know their area

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Conservative "values":Rich folk first, last and always, everyone else, FYITA !!!

Dargil · Answer

He would not abandon states. Just arrange direct subsidies without the FEMA bureaucracy. Like Florida can.

Anonymous · Answer

FEMA reminds me of the federal Department of Education. What exactly do they do?

dustybiker2 · Answer

It's just another asinine move.

Anonymous · Answer

Hmmmmmm FEMA 100% worthless.  Yes states should be able to do a better job.

Dongie · Answer

Fema is for vacationing for illegals.

seeyounexttuesday · Answer

FEMA certainly isn't capable.

KrakenAttackin · Answer

FEMA has regularly proven itself ineffective.

Trump said that "maybe FEMA should just go away" and let states handle their own disasters? Are all states capable? Is this fair? Wise? Who suffers?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Isn't it interesting that Trump is now avoiding talk about scrapping FEMA after the Texas flooding... didn't he know that Red states need help too?

Trump said that "maybe FEMA should just go away" and let states handle their own disasters? Are all states capable? Is this fair? Wise? Who suffers?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Isn't it interesting that Trump is now avoiding talk about scrapping FEMA after the Texas flooding... didn't he know that Red states need help too?

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