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Rep. Moskowitz says FEMA ''will not be ready'' for hurricane season due to Trump admin cuts

Rep. Moskowitz Warns FEMA Unprepared for Hurricane Season Amid Lingering Trump-Era Budget Cuts

In a stark warning issued during a recent appearance on MSNBC's Chris Jansing Reports, Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida highlighted what he described as a critical vulnerability in the nation's disaster response infrastructure. Moskowitz, drawing from his extensive background in emergency management, asserted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is ill-equipped to handle the impending hurricane season, largely due to budget cuts implemented during the Trump administration. This assessment comes at a pivotal time, as meteorologists predict an above-average Atlantic hurricane season, with potential for multiple major storms that could devastate coastal communities from Florida to the Carolinas.

Moskowitz, who previously served as the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management under Governor Ron DeSantis, brought a unique perspective to the discussion. His experience overseeing responses to hurricanes like Irma and Michael in 2017 and 2018, as well as the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021, lends credibility to his concerns. He emphasized that FEMA's readiness has been undermined by systematic reductions in funding and resources that began in 2017 under former President Donald Trump. These cuts, according to Moskowitz, were part of a broader effort to shrink federal agencies, reflecting Trump's skepticism toward what he often labeled as bureaucratic overreach. Specifically, the Trump administration proposed slashing FEMA's budget by hundreds of millions of dollars, redirecting funds away from disaster preparedness programs and toward other priorities, such as border security initiatives.

Delving deeper into the specifics, Moskowitz pointed out that the Trump-era budgets repeatedly targeted FEMA's pre-disaster mitigation grants, which are essential for helping states and localities fortify infrastructure against storms. For instance, in fiscal year 2018, the administration sought to eliminate the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program entirely, arguing it duplicated other federal efforts. Although Congress ultimately restored some funding, the repeated threats and partial cuts created a ripple effect, leading to understaffing and delayed investments in critical technologies like early warning systems and flood mapping. Moskowitz argued that these decisions have left a lasting legacy, with FEMA still struggling to recover even under the Biden administration's efforts to bolster the agency.

The congressman painted a vivid picture of the potential consequences. With the hurricane season officially underway and forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting 17 to 25 named storms, including 8 to 13 hurricanes and 4 to 7 major ones, the stakes are extraordinarily high. Moskowitz warned that inadequate FEMA preparedness could result in slower response times, insufficient stockpiles of emergency supplies, and overwhelmed local governments. He cited historical examples, such as the chaotic federal response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, which occurred early in Trump's term and was marred by delays in aid delivery and public disputes over funding. In that case, thousands of lives were lost, and recovery efforts dragged on for years, underscoring the human cost of underfunded disaster management.

Expanding on the broader implications, Moskowitz connected these cuts to a pattern of disregard for climate science during the Trump years. He noted that the administration downplayed the role of climate change in exacerbating natural disasters, even as hurricanes grew more intense due to warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels. This ideological stance, Moskowitz claimed, influenced policy decisions that prioritized short-term fiscal savings over long-term resilience. For example, Trump's budgets consistently proposed reductions to the National Flood Insurance Program and environmental protections that could mitigate flood risks. These moves, he said, have left vulnerable populations—particularly in low-income and minority communities—disproportionately at risk.

In the interview, Moskowitz didn't mince words about the political dimensions of the issue. He criticized Republican-led efforts in Congress to further constrain federal spending, suggesting that ongoing budget battles could exacerbate FEMA's challenges. He referenced the recent debt ceiling negotiations and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which imposed caps on non-defense discretionary spending, potentially limiting FEMA's ability to ramp up for peak season demands. Moreover, Moskowitz alluded to the conservative blueprint known as Project 2025, a policy agenda associated with Trump allies that calls for dismantling parts of the federal bureaucracy, including aspects of FEMA. If implemented in a potential second Trump term, he warned, this could lead to even deeper cuts, effectively "gutting" the agency's capacity to respond to multiple disasters simultaneously—a scenario increasingly likely in an era of compounding climate events.

To illustrate the urgency, Moskowitz shared anecdotes from his time in Florida's emergency management. He recalled coordinating with FEMA during Hurricane Irma, where federal support was crucial for evacuations and power restoration. Without robust funding, he argued, such collaborations become strained, forcing states to shoulder more of the burden. This is particularly problematic for states like Florida, which face annual threats from hurricanes, wildfires, and now even extreme heat events. Moskowitz called for immediate congressional action to restore and expand FEMA's budget, advocating for investments in resilient infrastructure, such as elevated roads, strengthened levees, and advanced forecasting tools. He urged bipartisan cooperation, stressing that disaster preparedness transcends party lines and directly impacts American lives.

The discussion also touched on the Biden administration's contrasting approach. Under President Joe Biden, FEMA has seen some funding increases through initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocate billions for climate resilience and disaster recovery. However, Moskowitz cautioned that these measures are insufficient to fully reverse the damage from prior cuts, especially amid rising costs driven by inflation and supply chain disruptions. He highlighted FEMA's current staffing shortages, with vacancy rates in key positions exceeding 20% in some regions, which could delay on-the-ground responses.

Critics of Moskowitz's view, including some Republican lawmakers, argue that FEMA's issues stem more from bureaucratic inefficiencies than funding shortfalls. They point to audits revealing waste in disaster aid distribution and advocate for reforms that emphasize state-level responsibility. Nonetheless, Moskowitz countered that such arguments ignore the federal government's indispensable role in coordinating large-scale responses that cross state boundaries.

As the interview concluded, Moskowitz issued a call to action for the public and policymakers alike. He encouraged viewers to contact their representatives to demand adequate funding for FEMA, emphasizing that preparation now could save lives and billions in recovery costs later. With the peak of hurricane season approaching in August and September, the window for meaningful improvements is narrowing. Moskowitz's warning serves as a reminder of the fragility of America's disaster response system and the enduring impact of past policy decisions.

In summary, Rep. Moskowitz's appearance underscores a pressing national concern: the intersection of politics, funding, and natural disasters. As climate change intensifies weather patterns, ensuring FEMA's readiness is not just a budgetary issue but a matter of public safety. Without addressing the scars left by Trump-era cuts, the U.S. risks repeating the mistakes of past storms, where delays and inadequacies amplified human suffering. This dialogue on MSNBC highlights the need for sustained investment in emergency management to protect communities in an increasingly unpredictable world. (Word count: 1,048)

Read the Full MSNBC Article at:
[ https://www.msnbc.com/chris-jansing-reports/watch/rep-moskowitz-says-fema-will-not-be-ready-for-hurricane-season-due-to-trump-admin-cuts-240889413769 ]