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United States officials are weighing sweeping structural changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the central federal body responsible for coordinating disaster preparedness and response across the country. A newly formed panel is proposing to dismantle key FEMA capabilities, a move experts say would amount to effectively closing the chapter on robust federal disaster response. Environmental and emergency management specialists cited in the report warn that the proposed restructuring would severely erode America’s capacity to cope with major catastrophes at a time when climate change is driving more frequent and intense extreme weather events. United States emergency planners highlight several areas of concern, including slower rapid response times, diminished funding for local recovery efforts and a shift away from proactive planning that currently helps cities and states prepare for large-scale emergencies. These changes are being discussed as climate-driven disasters such as major tornadoes in the central United States, massive wildfires in Florida and Georgia, and record-breaking floods increasingly threaten millions of residents. Experts caution that weakening FEMA’s preparedness and response functions could drive up the cost of rebuilding after disasters and lengthen the time needed to restore critical infrastructure, increasing safety risks for communities nationwide.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.