The administration of former President Donald Trump has reversed course on plans to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a recent report.
No formal steps are currently being taken to dissolve FEMA, and any potential adjustments to the agency will likely involve a redefinition of its role, placing greater emphasis on the responsibilities of state authorities during disaster responses, as stated by a senior White House official.
This development comes as Trump visits Texas to survey the destruction caused by recent severe flooding.
Following the disaster, which has claimed the lives of at least 120 people, Trump and his aides have emphasized the unprecedented scale of the event and the human toll rather than advancing the kind of government downsizing that has resonated with his core supporters.
“No one could have predicted something like this,” Trump said in a recent interview, calling the disaster a “once-in-200-years event.” He also mentioned that while he was prepared to visit Texas immediately, he did not want to divert resources from ongoing search efforts for over 170 missing individuals.
During his trip, Trump is expected to conduct an aerial assessment of heavily affected regions. He will also visit the state’s emergency operations center to speak with first responders and families of flood victims.
The president will receive updates from officials, with Republican Governor Greg Abbott, Senator John Cornyn, and Senator Ted Cruz accompanying him. The two senators are reportedly traveling with Trump on Air Force One.
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