Plans spearheaded by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem could see the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster response workforce slashed by thousands of positions this year, according to a new report based on internal documents.
Leaked Emails Outline Deep Staffing Cuts
The Washington Post reports that internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emails and spreadsheets reveal proposals to eliminate a significant portion of FEMA's personnel dedicated to disaster recovery. The layoffs are expected to be implemented in stages, as confirmed by three anonymous sources briefed on the matter.
According to the leaked materials, one proposal targets the Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery (CORE) – FEMA's largest workforce component – for a 41% reduction. This would equate to the loss of more than 4,300 jobs. A separate plan outlines an even more drastic 85% cut to surge staffing, which represents nearly 6,500 standby workers typically deployed immediately after catastrophic events.
First Cuts Already Implemented Amidst Denials
The first wave of this downsizing reportedly occurred on New Year's Eve, with approximately 65 CORE positions eliminated. Senior FEMA leaders were circulating spreadsheets identifying potential cuts across multiple divisions in late December.
However, a FEMA spokesperson has strongly denied the existence of any approved, percentage-based workforce reduction directive. In a statement to The Independent, the spokesperson characterised the leaked documents as part of a "routine, pre-decisional workforce planning exercise" conducted in line with official guidance.
"The materials referenced from the leaked documentation stem from a routine, pre-decisional workforce planning exercise conducted in line with OMB and OPM guidance," the spokesperson said. "Any numerical assumptions reflected in that draft were not approved, were not adopted, and do not represent FEMA policy or leadership direction."
Noem's Long-Stated Goal and Potential Consequences
Despite the official denial, two former senior officials and the internal correspondence suggest Secretary Kristi Noem has been closely involved in shaping the proposed reductions and has long sought to trim CORE staffing levels. Noem has previously expressed scepticism about the size and scope of FEMA's operations.
The potential consequences of such deep cuts have raised alarms among experts. Cameron Hamilton, the former acting FEMA Administrator under President Trump, warned that significant reductions to disaster-specific staff could severely delay critical assistance to survivors in the aftermath of hurricanes, floods, and other emergencies.
DHS has publicly acknowledged only a smaller adjustment, stating it terminated 50 employees in early January—a move it described as routine within its 8,000-strong workforce. The Independent has contacted DHS for further comment on the broader plans outlined in the leaked emails.
