# Trump-appointed FEMA panel urges states take lead in disaster recovery **Published:** 2026-05-07T22:05:14.000Z **Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/07/repub/trump-appointed-fema-panel-urges-states-should-take-the-lead-in-disaster-recovery/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/trump-appointed-fema-panel-urges-states-take-lead-in-disaster-recovery A federal panel appointed by President Donald Trump released sweeping recommendations Thursday to shift more responsibility for natural disaster recovery from Washington to state governments, a move that could significantly reshape how Americans receive emergency assistance following floods, hurricanes, and other catastrophes. The [FEMA Review Council recommended overhauling the National Flood Insurance Program](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/07/repub/trump-appointed-fema-panel-urges-states-should-take-the-lead-in-disaster-recovery/) by transferring most policies to private insurers, changing how federal disaster assistance reaches survivors, and raising the threshold for federal involvement in recovery efforts. The 75-page report, [released by the panel co-chaired by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth](https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2026-05/26_0507_fema%20review%20council_final%20report.pdf), emphasizes equipping states to lead disaster response with the federal government in a supporting role rather than directing the response. Robert Fenton, FEMA regional administrator for Region 9, said the flood insurance program is "financially unstable" and burdened by debt. He called for Congress to create a program transferring the struggling National Flood Insurance Program to private insurers, who would handle most policies while states regulate insurance as they are statutorily responsible for doing. The council proposed significant changes to how disaster survivors receive aid. Instead of multiple assistance channels for housing, repair, and replacement costs, survivors would receive one-time payments. Housing assistance would be limited to those whose homes are deemed uninhabitable, and states would gain flexibility in emergency housing decisions. The panel also recommended states receive direct payments within 30 days of disasters instead of the current reimbursement model where the federal government covers 75 percent of recovery costs after work is completed. Whether disasters qualify for federal support would be determined by a "parametric threshold" using pre-defined metrics rather than presidential discretion informed by damage assessments. While [the council's final recommendations moved away from a controversial December draft that proposed cutting FEMA's workforce by 50 percent](https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/05/07/trump-fema-council/), the changes still face criticism from disaster recovery advocates. Maddie Sloan, director of disaster recovery at Texas Appleseed, argued the recommendations would "slash the help that's available to individual survivors." She noted that excluding assistance for auto repair, medical care, and funerals leaves survivors vulnerable, and shifting responsibility to states without federal guarantees could leave more disaster victims without critical funds. Michael McLemore, a St. Louis tornado survivor, criticized the approach for "abdicating responsibility" and noted it took FEMA nearly eight months to obligate funds following the 2025 tornado, leaving the city to shoulder costs in the interim. Many recommendations require congressional approval. The [House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bipartisan bill in September that would make FEMA a Cabinet-level agency independent of the Department of Homeland Security](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4669/text?s=1&r=1), but House Republican leaders have not brought it to the floor for a vote. ## Sources - [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/07/repub/trump-appointed-fema-panel-urges-states-should-take-the-lead-in-disaster-recovery/) - [75-page FEMA Review Council final report](https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2026-05/26_0507_fema%20review%20council_final%20report.pdf) - [Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council proposes sweeping changes to federal disaster support](https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/05/07/trump-fema-council/) - [H.R. 4669 - FEMA reform bill text](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4669/text?s=1&r=1) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/07/repub/trump-appointed-fema-panel-urges-states-should-take-the-lead-in-disaster-recovery/.