Federal Emergency Management Agency

Metro Nashville joined several jurisdictions in suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, alleging that DHS withheld anti-terrorism funds unless states adopted specific election policies requiring use of a national citizenship verification system. The local governments contend these conditions violate the U.S. Constitution and place public safety and electoral integrity at risk.

The U.S. Senate passed a sanctions package targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and related figures through a bipartisan education bill. Furthermore, senators advanced continuing resolution legislation for government funding and confirmed an acting Attorney General before potentially considering standards for college athletes’ compensation.

A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office states that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's downsizing during the second Trump administration has worsened existing workforce challenges and endangered disaster response. The watchdog warns that these reductions have led to a loss of institutional knowledge and experienced personnel.

Emergency management is evolving from reactive to proactive strategies due to emerging threats like pandemics, cyberattacks, and misinformation. Recent events, including a 2024 hurricane misinformation crisis and a 2025 St. Paul cyberattack, highlight the need for anticipatory approaches using data and AI.

PriorityEvac, a new company, offers private hurricane evacuation flights from Florida to Atlanta for $1,250 annually, prioritizing members during storms. The service highlights growing climate crisis impacts and inequality, as wealthier individuals can afford swift evacuations while others face limited options.

The former Three Mile Island nuclear plant, now rebranded as the Crane Clean Energy Center, is progressing toward a 2027 restart after meeting relicensing milestones. Constellation Energy, the plant's owner, plans to invest $1.6 billion to restart the reactor, which will supply 835 megawatts of electricity and create 600 permanent jobs. Federal agencies including the NRC and FEMA are reviewing emergency preparedness plans to address lingering public concerns linked to the 1979 partial meltdown.

Kerr County is experiencing worse flood damage with fewer resources as the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not yet provided assistance to local governments or individuals, and philanthropic efforts are lagging compared to last year's response.

The former Three Mile Island nuclear plant's Unit 1, renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center, is progressing toward a 2027 restart under Constellation Energy's $1.6 billion revival plan. The project, part of a partnership with Microsoft to power AI data centers, involves federal emergency preparedness reviews and will create 600 jobs. The reactor, unaffected by the 1979 partial meltdown, will supply 835 megawatts of electricity to the regional grid.

California is suing the Trump administration over new conditions tied to emergency funding that require states to implement specific election rules and immigration enforcement measures. The lawsuit, joined by 24 Democratic-led states, challenges requirements such as verifying voter citizenship via a federal system and enabling fund termination by federal agencies.

25 Democratic attorneys general led by Rob Bonta are suing the Trump administration for imposing 'unlawful' conditions on federal disaster grants. The lawsuit claims the Department of Homeland Security and Fema are using stipulations as a 'campaign of coercion' to force states to adopt specific voting and immigration policies.

More than 24 states sued the Trump administration for requiring compliance with election and immigration policies to receive disaster funding, arguing the conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution's spending clause. The lawsuit challenges Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security policies that allow funding termination for noncompliance, with states facing potential losses of billions in aid.

California is suing the Trump administration over new conditions on emergency preparedness grants that link funding to election and immigration policies. The lawsuit, joined by 24 Democratic-led states, challenges requirements such as verifying voter citizenship and using hand-marked paper ballots, arguing the rules pressure states to comply with federal preferences. The Trump administration defends the conditions as necessary for election security.

Governor Josh Shapiro joined over two dozen state leaders in suing the Trump administration over conditions tied to Homeland Security funding that require changes to election administration. The lawsuit challenges the legality of demands, including sharing voter registration lists and poll worker names, with Pennsylvania facing a potential $6 million loss in funding.

Over 24 states sued the Trump administration for imposing conditions on disaster funding that require compliance with election and immigration policies. The lawsuit challenges Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security policies, arguing they violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution’s spending clause by threatening to withhold critical funds.

More than 24 states sued the Trump administration for requiring compliance with election and immigration conditions to receive disaster funding. The lawsuit challenges policies that allow the administration to terminate grants at will and mandates changes to election systems, citing violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution’s spending clause.

Cameron Hamilton, a former acting FEMA chief fired by President Donald Trump, is progressing toward confirmation as the agency's administrator. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced his nomination, despite Trump's stated desire to reduce FEMA's federal role. Hamilton has worked for various government and consulting roles since leaving FEMA, including a senior position at LTS, Inc., and reported significant financial compensation.

Jasmine Williams, a Pennsylvania woman, was sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding FEMA of $1.7 million following Hurricane Ida by submitting fraudulent documents to secure disaster aid. The Department of Homeland Security highlighted the Trump administration's efforts to combat FEMA fraud, emphasizing accountability for those misappropriating disaster assistance funds.

A new federal housing law includes changes to disaster recovery funding administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), aiming to improve predictability for communities like Vermont recovering from the 2023 floods. The law requires HUD to establish permanent rules for funding usage and set timelines for dispersing aid, though it does not guarantee congressional appropriations.

Cameron Hamilton, previously fired as acting FEMA chief by President Donald Trump, is moving closer to confirmation as the agency's director. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved his nomination, while Hamilton has held roles at LTS, Inc. and the Education Department since his 2025 dismissal.

Cameron Hamilton, who led FEMA in an acting role in 2025 before being fired by President Trump, is moving closer to confirmation as the agency's administrator after a Senate committee approved his nomination. Trump has sought to reduce FEMA's federal role, but Hamilton pledged to improve the agency's disaster declaration process and customer service to states during his June hearing.

Cameron Hamilton, previously fired as acting FEMA chief by President Trump in May 2025, is advancing toward confirmation as the agency’s administrator after a Senate committee approved his nomination. Trump has sought to reduce FEMA’s federal role, but Hamilton pledged to improve the agency’s disaster declaration process and customer service during his confirmation hearing.

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee advanced Cameron Hamilton's nomination to lead FEMA, despite his prior dismissal by President Trump. Hamilton, who previously served as acting FEMA chief, emphasized improving the agency's processes and customer service during his confirmation hearing.

Nineteen months after the Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County’s Altadena parks have received no FEMA funding for a recovery now estimated at over $240 million. Over $64 million in donations and grants has been raised for the parks’ recovery, all from non-federal sources.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) suspended disaster funding to the U.S. Virgin Islands’ housing authority due to mismanagement, which has prevented $1.3 billion in hurricane recovery funds from reaching survivors. An investigation found financial mismanagement, inadequate fraud controls, and incomplete housing projects, with only $570 million of $1.9 billion allocated funds spent over nine years.

Trump blamed Canada for wildfire smoke and threatened tariffs, while a judge ruled he illegally fired FEMA CFO Mary Comans. Trump denied FEMA disaster aid requests at politically skewed rates, taxpayers paid $175K for Trump banners, and Lafayette Park may be fenced to restrict public access.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned states not complying with Trump administration election-security requirements could lose federal funding, with election officials facing fines, penalties, or prison time. DHS identified 250,000 voter records in four states potentially belonging to noncitizens and urged states to join the SAVE program to cross-check voter rolls against federal databases.

A Wisconsin Policy Forum report found that federal aid for rebuilding public infrastructure after historic 2025-2026 floods in Wisconsin fell short, leaving local governments to cover $240 million in damages. The Trump administration approved $210 million for individual assistance but denied funding for local governments despite emergency declarations and requests.

President Trump has approved fewer disaster aid requests from states that did not support him, with longer delays in approvals compared to previous presidents. Analysis shows higher denial rates for requests from states with Democratic governors and those that voted against him in the 2024 election.

A Wisconsin Policy Forum report found that federal aid to local governments after climate disasters, such as historic floods in August 2025, often falls short. The Trump administration approved $210 million for individual assistance but denied funding for public infrastructure repairs despite requests from state and local leaders.

Two Democratic state senators, Nikil Saval and Katie Muth, voted against Pennsylvania's bipartisan $50.8 billion state budget, criticizing it for avoiding major issues like rising energy costs, affordable housing, and public transit funding. The budget passed with bipartisan support, but the senators argued it deferred critical policy challenges, particularly in transportation and housing.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended a decision to link counterterrorism grant funding to election security requirements. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced in June that states must meet election security demands to receive the funding, traditionally used for combating terror attacks.

FEMA has approved over $16 million to assist Tennessee communities in recovering from multiple disasters and implementing mitigation projects. The funds aim to support recovery efforts and reduce future risks.

Vermonters gathered at a climate panel in Barre to discuss the impacts of recent floods, including a 2023 incident where floodwaters damaged a homeless shelter and displaced residents. A study highlighted Washington County as having the most federal disaster declarations in the U.S. over a decade, while attendees criticized federal disaster aid politicization under President Trump’s 2025 administration.

A federal judge halted the Trump administration from enforcing new grant conditions targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and immigration enforcement compliance for federal programs in California and Oregon. The injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge William Orrick, blocks four federal agencies from imposing conditions that could defund public safety, health, and environmental initiatives.

The Trump administration is accused by House Democrats of using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funding guidelines to pressure states into altering election laws. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withheld up to 20% of grant funds unless states updated their election laws, including using the SAVE computer system to verify voter citizenship, despite a recent court ruling against this practice. Democrats criticized the demands as politically motivated and unrealistic, arguing they undermine public safety and grant accessibility.

Congress passed a bipartisan housing bill that will make HUD's sporadic disaster aid a permanent program, aiming to speed up long-term recovery for disaster-affected communities. The current HUD program, which has provided over $100 billion in disaster assistance, is criticized for delays and inefficiencies, such as a five-year delay in rebuilding affordable housing in New Bern, North Carolina, after Hurricane Florence.

The Trump administration is accused of using Department of Homeland Security grants to pressure states into changing election laws, according to House Democrats. Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines reportedly include demands tied to federal funding, such as using the SAVE system to verify voter citizenship, which a court recently ruled unlawful.

Democrats on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee accuse the Trump administration of using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs to pressure states into altering election laws, including requiring the use of the SAVE system to verify voter citizenship. The committee claims these demands conflict with court rulings and are impossible to meet before upcoming elections, risking $200 million in federal funds.

The Trump administration is accused of using Department of Homeland Security grants to pressure states into altering election laws, including requiring the use of the SAVE system for voter verification. Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee claim these demands are illegal and politically motivated, risking $200 million in federal funds for non-compliance.

The Trump administration is accused of using Department of Homeland Security grants to pressure states into changing election laws, with House Democrats claiming the demands are illegal and could cost states $200 million. The administration requires states to use the SAVE computer system for voter verification, conflicting with a recent federal court ruling that prohibits such use.