A Trump‑appointed FEMA Review Council urged a sweeping overhaul of the disaster agency, proposing faster payouts and a leaner federal role. The panel suggested replacing detailed damage surveys with metrics like wind speed or flood depth, delivering funds within 30 days. Markwayne Mullin, the new homeland security secretary, framed the changes as a return to FEMA’s original mission.

The recommendations would tilt more financial responsibility onto states, urging them to handle routine events without federal dollars. Analysts note FEMA’s aid fund, which averaged $12 billion annually from 1992‑2021, has risen above $40 billion in recent years as climate‑driven disasters surge. A private takeover of the National Flood Insurance Program also appears in the report, reflecting industry pressure.

Implementation hinges on congressional action; a bipartisan bill echoing many proposals has stalled since September. With midterm elections looming, lawmakers may hesitate, leaving the agency’s future uncertain. Nonetheless, the council’s report signals a clear intent to curtail federal spending and reshape disaster financing.