Understanding the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Challenges: Perspectives From Congressional Hearings

ABSTRACT Since its creation in 1979, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has faced various lines of criticism from the public, state and local officials, and members of Congress. As of this writing, FEMA's future faces considerable uncertainty. Everything from eliminating the agency altogether to re‐elevating it to an independent, cabinet‐level agency seem to be possible policy outcomes. This uncertainty stems largely from federal policymakers' varying beliefs and interpretations of what FEMA does, should do, and can do. To better understand congressional perspectives about FEMA, the authors reviewed ten years of congressional hearings to understand how Congress conceptualizes FEMA and its role, along with their critiques of the agency. This paper found that while there is bipartisan praise of FEMA by members of Congress they are also concerned with issues related to ongoing reform and response, programmatic challenges, contracting problems, fiscal accountability and financial stewardship, capacity to fulfil agency responsibilities, and FEMA's role within the federal system. These findings suggest comprehensive federal emergency management reform is needed.