FEMA helps after major disasters like hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires. On May 7, 2026, the FEMA Review Council released a final report with recommendations for changing how federal disaster response works. The report points toward states, local governments, Tribal governments, and territories taking more of the lead, with the federal government acting more as support. Some recommendations would try to make aid faster and simpler, including direct funding to governments and a simpler individual assistance program. Other parts would raise the bar for when federal aid is triggered, which counties and cities warn could mean less federal presence and more cost placed on local governments. Many of the biggest changes would need Congress to act before becoming law. The debate is whether disaster response should stay strongly national because disasters can overwhelm local budgets, or whether states and communities should carry more responsibility because they know local risks best and may act faster. When a storm wipes out a town, people need help that is fast, clear, and reliable. I want FEMA fixed, but I do not want families stuck waiting while every level of government argues over who is responsible.
How should the federal government change disaster aid after the FEMA Review Council report?