Washington, D.C. — Federal agencies help Americans prepare for, survive, and recover from extreme weather disasters. But the Trump administration’s cuts to the National Weather Service, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have weakened that lifeline at every stage of a storm.
A new analysis from the Center for American Progress shows how the Trump administration has been systematically dismantling agencies—slashing the jobs, budgets, infrastructure, and programs that give communities a fighting chance.
These cuts have compromised reliable and accurate weather forecasting as well as the ability to deliver urgent warnings and calls to evacuate ahead of severe weather. Cuts to FEMA’s staffing, funding, outreach, and administrative capacity have slowed the federal response at the exact moment survivors need fast decisions, clear information, and visible help. FEMA cuts also have harmed efforts for recovery and rebuilding after extreme weather damage.
Policy shifts during the second Trump administration are making it harder for some states to receive disaster funding. A March 2026 analysis showed that it’s three times harder for blue states to obtain disaster funding under President Donald Trump.
Read the analysis: “How Trump’s Cuts to FEMA and NWS Are Leaving Communities Defenseless Against Extreme Weather Disasters” by Margaret Cooney and Devon Lespier
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].