Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Diana DeGette, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to reconsider significantly restructuring or dissolving the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ahead of peak wildfire season.
“The 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed over 1,084 homes—the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. FEMA provided critical support that helped Coloradans recover, rebuild infrastructure, and prepare for future emergencies. Cutting FEMA’s workforce, closing mitigation programs such as Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), or even dissolving the agency completely threaten to jeopardize ongoing recovery efforts and hinder our ability to swiftly and effectively respond in the future,” wrote the lawmakers.
The lawmakers highlight the critical support FEMA provided following the 2021 Marshall Fire and how cutting FEMA’s workforce and shuttering disaster relief programs jeopardizes current recovery efforts and future responses.
“We respectfully urge you to maintain strong funding and staffing levels for FEMA, and ensure that any reforms are based on a demonstrated need to cut red tape in service of facilitating swifter assistance. Anything less threatens to delay response times, slow rebuilding efforts, and leave communities more vulnerable to future disasters,” concluded the lawmakers.
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Secretary Noem:
We write to express our concern regarding proposed reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including its potential dissolution. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters make FEMA’s role in coordinating federal disaster response more crucial than ever. We urge careful evaluation of any agency restructuring to avoid compromising our nation’s ability to effectively respond to emergencies.
Like many states, Colorado has experienced devastating disasters in recent years. Destructive wildfires and severe flooding have displaced families and left communities struggling to rebuild. The 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed over 1,084 homes—the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. FEMA provided critical support that helped Coloradans recover, rebuild infrastructure, and prepare for future emergencies. Cutting FEMA’s workforce, closing mitigation programs such as Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), or even dissolving the agency completely threaten to jeopardize ongoing recovery efforts and hinder our ability to swiftly and effectively respond in the future.
We respectfully urge you to maintain strong funding and staffing levels for FEMA, and ensure that any reforms are based on a demonstrated need to cut red tape in service of facilitating swifter assistance. Anything less threatens to delay response times, slow rebuilding efforts, and leave communities more vulnerable to future disasters. Our nation depends on FEMA’s expertise and swift action during emergencies, and we cannot afford to weaken this vital resource.
Thank you for your consideration.