President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he has created the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Review Council.
The president made the announcement in a post on his social media platform.
"I am proud to announce the formation of the FEMA Review Council, comprised of Top Experts in their fields, who are Highly Respected by their peers," he wrote.
Trump said that he picked a large group to handle the job, writing:
"It is my Great Honor to appoint to the Council, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, [Texas] Governor Greg Abbott, [Virginia] Governor Glenn Youngkin, former [Mississippi] Governor Phil Bryant, [RNC Chair] Michael Whatley, [Tampa, Florida] Mayor Jane Castor, [Florida Division of Emergency Management Director] Kevin Guthrie, [TDEM Chief] W. Nim Kidd, [Miami-Dade County, Florida] Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, [former Louisiana Gov. chief of staff] Mark Cooper, [FEMA Regional administrator] Bob Fenton, and [Chubb Limited CEO] Evan Greenberg."
Trump also continued leaning on what has been a theme of his second term: downsizing the federal government.
"I know that the new Members will work hard to fix a terribly broken System, and return power to State Emergency Managers, who will help, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN," he said.
Noem mentioned in a short comment in late March at the White House that FEMA's days were numbered. And this past week, a Trump administration memo surfaced that included details about potentially blocking FEMA funds being used for disaster aid requests stemming from blizzards.
The president signed an executive order in March that spelled out the general theme he wanted to see for disaster reaction by taking it out of the hands of federal managers. "Local leaders and citizens know their needs best — not bureaucrats in Washington, D.C."