First on Fox: President Donald Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order on Monday. This will prepare and respond to disasters with states and local jurisdictions in the driver's seat for disaster preparation and response.
“This order restores state, local and individual empowerment in disaster preparedness and response, injecting common sense into infrastructure prioritization and strategic investment through risk-based decisions that are more resilient to global and dynamic threats and dangers.”
The order highlights the role of state, local and individual leadership in federal leadership during preparation and response to disasters such as floods and fires, and “rationalizes” the federal government's functions so that they can more easily work with federal leaders in Washington.
It also establishes national resilience strategies. It identifies risks to key national infrastructure and associated systems, providing an overview of “priorities, measures and ways to advance national resilience.”
Trump will “dramatically” sign an executive order aimed at improving FEMA's effectiveness, priorities and capabilities
President Donald Trump signs the executive order in an oval office. (Anna Money Maker/Getty Images)
Authorities will be called to confirm “all infrastructure, continuity, and preparation and response policies” to ensure they are in line with the national resilience strategy.
The order shifts the federal government's “all hazards” approach to disaster handling to a “risk-based approach,” which prioritizes “resilience and action over mere information sharing,” Fox Digital learned.
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Trump opposed the state's response to natural disasters under the Biden administration. He told Sean Hannity of Fox News a few days after taking office that “FEMA hasn't done his job in the last four years,” and hopes that “state issues will handle their own issues” as the federal government and its resources and funds have historically relied on funds to handle disasters.
President Joe Biden was in the 2021 hurricane briefing. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
FEMA was under the country's microscope when Hurricane Helen tore North Carolina in 2024, destroying devastating residents as residents wiped out homes and businesses and killed more than 100 people. FEMA and the Biden administration faced a fierce backlash over handling the emergency, accusing Trump of thwarting relief efforts in Republican areas.
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Trump signed another executive order in January to establish the FEMA Review Council to “dramatically” improve federal agencies tasked with handling disaster aid across the country.
Firefighters will fight a lilac fire along Interstate 15 near the Bonsal Community in San Diego County, California, on Tuesday, January 21st. (AP/Noah Burger)
“Even though it requires nearly $30 billion in disaster aid over the past three years, FEMA has been able to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources and support they need most when they need it,” the executive order read. “FEMA has serious concerns about political bias. In fact, at least one former FEMA responder has said that FEMA managers have directed them to avoid private homes supporting President Donald J. Trump's campaign.”
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Additionally, Trump opposed the left-wing policy that he said had contributed to the raging wildfires that destroyed the area around Los Angeles in January, saying it exacerbated California's most notable natural disaster response.
The helicopter will drop water on the Pallisard fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, January 11, 2025. (Etienne Laurent/Applications)
“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign a water recovery declaration that would have allowed millions of gallons of water as extra rain and snow from the north burns daily.
Trump signed another executive order on January 24th to provide California with additional water resources to improve the state's response to the disaster.
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The order Trump is expected to sign on Monday, like the California executive order, served as a continuation of his pledge “shifting power from Washington to Americans,” and set up the FEMA Review Council in January, Fox Digital learned.
Greg Wehner of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
