Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, introduced a resolution condemning federal workforce reductions that undermine preparedness, response, and recovery, and expressing serious concern regarding proposed future staffing cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA plays a critical role in helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, and its ability to fulfill that mission depends on a stable, well-trained, and adequately resourced workforce. However, recent reporting indicates the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pursuing significant workforce reductions at FEMA, even as disasters become more frequent and severe.

"FEMA's workforce comes to the aid of Americans at their most vulnerable - after disasters have upended their lives," said Ranking Member Thompson. "At a time when communities across the country are facing increasingly devastating disasters, it is beyond reckless to consider staffing cuts. The Trump administration's reckless firings and misguided staffing cuts blatantly disregard the painful lessons of Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Based on past disasters, we know that slashing FEMA's workforce will put Americans at risk, plain and simple."

"FEMA's workforce is the backbone of our nation's disaster response. When a winter storm, tornado, hurricane, or flood strikes, Americans should never have to wonder whether the federal government has the people, experience, or capacity in place to help them recover," said Ranking Member Kennedy. "We stand to lose decades of lessons learned from devastating disasters should we allow this administration to continue with its reckless workforce reductions. I'm proud to co-lead this resolution to condemn dangerous cuts to FEMA and to stand up for the dedicated public servants who keep our communities safe."

The resolution reaffirms Congress's responsibility to ensure FEMA has the personnel, resources, and institutional capacity necessary to carry out its mission effectively and urges DHS to abandon any plans that would further erode the agency's readiness.

The resolution is also cosponsored by Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Dan Goldman (D-NY), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Pablo José Hernández (D-PR), Nellie Pou (D-NJ), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Al Green (D-TX), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Ed Case (D-HI), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Wesley Bell (D-MO), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA).

Endorsements:

"AFGE strongly supports House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Thompson's resolution condemning reckless FEMA workforce cuts that jeopardize disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, threaten public safety, and undermine the dedicated federal employees who protect communities across the nation before, during, and after disasters," said American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President Everett Kelley.

"A robust and well-resourced emergency management workforce is the backbone of our nation's resilience. The stability of skilled personnel safeguards the operational integrity of our emergency management systems and ensures that communities receive timely, effective support during their most critical moments," added Goulda A. Downer, PhD, FAND, RD, LN, CNS, Co-Founder, HBCU Emergency Management Workforce Consortium.

Resolution Text

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