As federal conversations around emergency management reform continue to accelerate, new proposals from both Congress and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council are shaping a pivotal debate about the future of disaster response and recovery in the United States (US). Questions surrounding FEMA’s structure, funding mechanisms, and the balance of federal versus state responsibilities are now at the center of national policy discussions.
This month, Hagerty’s Senior Advisor for Community Recovery, Stan Gimont, co-authored a featured analysis for the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) examining how the FEMA Review Council’s final report compares to the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act (H.R. 4669) currently before Congress.
Examining the Future of FEMA
The article provides an in-depth look at several of the most consequential policy issues facing emergency management today, including:
- Whether FEMA should remain within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or become an independent agency
- How disaster response and recovery responsibilities may shift to states and local jurisdictions
- Proposed changes to disaster declaration thresholds and eligibility requirements
- Efforts to streamline and accelerate post-disaster funding delivery
- The operational and staffing challenges tied to implementing large-scale reform
The analysis also explores the complexities of transitioning to new disaster assistance models while maintaining ongoing response and recovery operations. With hurricane season underway and bipartisan reform momentum continuing to build, the debate over FEMA’s future may shape emergency management policy for years to come.
Read the full article to explore how the council’s recommendations and congressional proposals compare—and what these reforms could mean for states, local communities, and the future of emergency management.
About Our Team
Stan Gimont is the Senior Advisor for Community Recovery at Hagerty Consulting and a former senior official at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During his 32-year tenure at HUD, he oversaw key programs and led long-term recovery efforts for major disasters, including hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. He also directed the implementation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and HUD’s National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC). At Hagerty, Stan provides strategic guidance on HUD programs, housing policy, and community recovery.