President Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) while visiting disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina and California on January 24.

This marks Trump’s first trip to survey disaster zones since his inauguration, as part of his broader effort to increase presidential authority over federal disaster relief allocation.

"FEMA has turned out to be a disaster," Trump said while visiting North Carolina areas devastated by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. "I think it’s time to let FEMA go."

The president criticized FEMA's coordination of disaster relief in North Carolina, arguing that states should receive federal funding directly to manage disaster recovery independently.

Criticism of California’s Wildfire Response

During his stop in Los Angeles to survey wildfire damage, Trump also criticized California’s handling of the recent fires but pledged cooperation with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Previously, Trump had threatened to cut off federal wildfire relief to California unless the state complied with his demands, including revising laws he claimed allowed undocumented immigrants to vote and addressing water storage issues he tied to drought conditions.

After witnessing the wildfire devastation firsthand, Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone, assuring Californians that federal assistance would continue.

"No one can understand how harsh and catastrophic the situation is until they see it for themselves," Trump said after flying over fire-ravaged areas. "I’ve seen terrible things on TV, but the scale and severity of this disaster are truly unimaginable."

Devastating Wildfires

The recent California wildfires have scorched tens of thousands of acres and forced thousands to evacuate. Two of the largest fires, the Palisades and Eaton blazes, have consumed approximately 40,000 acres combined, leaving over 20 dead.

Another fire, the Hughes blaze, broke out on January 22, rapidly spreading across hillsides 35 miles north of Los Angeles and burning approximately 10,000 acres. Around 31,000 residents have been evacuated, while firefighters worked through the night to contain the flames.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that strong winds are subsiding, and rain is expected in the Los Angeles area by the weekend. However, the NWS cautioned that localized dry conditions will persist, posing continued risks.

(Sources: AFP, AP)

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