Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a visit to areas devastated last year by Hurricane Helene, Donald Trump suggested he would dismantle the federal agency tasked with organizing disaster response and recovery.
During a tour of North Carolina to survey damage caused by the 2024 hurricane, Trump said he would sign an executive order fundamentally overhauling and potentially eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, suggesting it should “go away.”
The remarks come soon after Trump called for the conditioning of federal aid to California to address the ongoing wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area. Specifically, Trump called for the state to enact strict voter ID laws and initiate a water transfer from the north part of the state to the south that would benefit, among other things, Trump’s own L.A.-area golf club.
In response, Athan Manuel, Director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program, released the following statement:
“Climate change is making extreme weather events increasingly common and increasingly destructive. An organized federal response will be more important than ever to address these disasters when they do occur and lead recovery efforts for those most affected, yet Donald Trump is talking about dismantling FEMA and conditioning federal aid on his own grievances. Times like this require strong leadership, not petty partisanship.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.