NEW ORLEANS - President Trump’s newly established FEMA Review Council convened its second meeting Wednesday at the U.S. Customs House in New Orleans, a city deeply shaped by disaster and a fitting backdrop for discussions on the future of emergency response.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry addressed the panel and emphasized the city's firsthand experience with delayed federal support, calling out bureaucratic hurdles that hinder rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. He noted that the choice of New Orleans, as it nears the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, underscores the council’s charge to correct past inaction.
Landry told reporters he supports either overhauling or replacing FEMA but maintains that any successor must function effectively. “We want a competent and functional agency, whether it’s FEMA or whatever it is.” In discussions with Axios, he expressed cautious confidence that federal funding mechanisms would remain in place even as reforms proceed. “I am not convinced that the federal government is not going to be there when we need it.”
Also speaking at the meeting were Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who reiterated Trump’s stance in favor of shifting disaster response to states and localities, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who highlighted the military’s supportive role in disaster relief.
The council, established by executive order in January to reevaluate FEMA’s mission and structure, is responsible for issuing its initial report within 180 days of its first public meeting. Its convening in New Orleans comes amid a surge in hurricane season anxiety and ongoing national debates over federal disaster responsibilities.
