FEMA signals shift of disaster costs to states within six months, alarming New York officials

The Trump administration has not formally announced changes, but experts warn the move could cost New York billions in recovery aid.

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Follow this storyHear when it moves

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has told state emergency managers that FEMA will shift financial responsibility for disaster preparation and recovery to states and localities within the next six months, a move that could cost New York billions of dollars in federal disaster relief, officials and experts say.

At an annual meeting for state emergency managers on Tuesday, FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton indicated the agency would reduce its role in disaster relief, according to Politico. "Federal dollars should be building greater capability, not creating greater dependency," Hamilton said in his remarks.

The Trump administration has not formally announced any changes, but the signal has drawn sharp criticism from New York state and city leaders.

Amy Chester, director of the nonprofit resiliency organization Rebuild by Design, said the shift "would be devastating for New York State — and, frankly, any state — and underscores the need for investing in pre-disaster resilience infrastructure to ensure that communities don't suffer in the first place."

New York State has received over $16.5 billion from FEMA in the past 15 years for disasters including Hurricane Irene in 2011, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Ida in 2021 and Tropical Storm Lee in 2023, according to figures from the state comptroller's office.

A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would fight against the policy changes. "Any attempt by the Trump administration to cut financial assistance to communities stricken by disaster is an abdication of their responsibilities and is indefensible," said spokesperson Jess D'Amelia.

Jeremy Edwards, a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, also condemned the plan. "As we approach the 14th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, which took 44 New Yorkers' lives and caused billions of dollars in damage, it is unconscionable that the federal government would cut disaster aid without a clear plan or timeline — leaving cities and states without the resources or certainty they need to prepare," Edwards said in a statement.

FEMA spokesperson Charles Wollenhaupt said the agency's primary focus is on empowering state and local governments. "Federal assistance is meant to support state and local response, not to replace it, and cannot make individuals or communities whole after a disaster," he said.

Kenny Stancil, a deputy research director at the watchdog group Revolving Door Project, said states cannot replace federal dollars on their own. "It doesn't make sense, just in terms of efficiency and economies of scale, for every state to try to reproduce what FEMA does. That's why FEMA exists. It's nonsensical to imagine that states could do this all by themselves," Stancil said.

Rep. Grace Meng of Queens said she would fight any plan for FEMA to abandon states after disasters. "The Northeast has never weathered a superstorm alone. Irene, Sandy, Ida: Each time, federal disaster assistance pulled communities out of the wreckage and helped us rebuild," she said in a statement.

RSS

The Daily Edition

The front page in your inbox each weekday morning: the lead, the picks, and why each one earned its place.

Analysis

Why This Matters

New York has relied on billions in federal disaster aid for major storms; losing that support could leave the state unable to recover from future extreme weather events.
The shift comes as climate change drives more intense and frequent storms, increasing the costs of preparation and recovery.
The decision affects every state, not just New York, and could reshape the national approach to disaster management.

Background

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has historically provided financial and logistical support to states after natural disasters. The Trump administration has already denied New York's request for a major disaster declaration following severe winter storms in February, and cancelled $400 million in flood protection grants. New York City's Department of Environmental Protection estimated in 2024 that it would cost $30 billion over three decades to improve resiliency in flood-prone areas, while Rebuild by Design estimated $387 billion to adapt to climate change effects through 2050.

Key Perspectives

FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton: said federal dollars should build capability, not dependency, and that the agency would shift financial responsibility to states within six months. Amy Chester, Rebuild by Design: said the change would be devastating for any state and highlighted the need for pre-disaster resilience investment. Gov. Kathy Hochul's spokesperson Jess D'Amelia: said cutting disaster aid is an abdication of federal responsibility and is indefensible. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's spokesperson Jeremy Edwards: called the decision unconscionable without a clear plan, endangering New Yorkers. FEMA spokesperson Charles Wollenhaupt: said federal assistance is meant to support, not replace, state and local response, and that communities cannot be made whole by the federal government. Kenny Stancil, Revolving Door Project: said states cannot replicate FEMA's role and that the federal government is already abandoning communities. Rep. Grace Meng: said no city or state was ever intended to handle disasters alone.

What to Watch

Whether the Trump administration formally announces the policy change and sets a timeline for implementation.
How New York State and city respond with legislative or legal action to preserve federal funding.
The impact on future disaster declarations, especially for winter storms and hurricanes as the next storm season approaches.

Sources

FEMA Soon Won’t Help States With Disaster Relief. For NY, That Means a Loss of Billions. · THE CITY

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe headline says FEMA signalled a shift of disaster costs to states within six months.THE CITY: “Hamilton indicated FEMA would shift financial responsibility for disaster preparation and recovery to states and localities in the next six months”
SupportedThe Trump administration has not formally announced changes.THE CITY: “Despite his comments, the Trump administration has not officially announced any changes.”
Partly supportedExperts warn that the move could cost New York billions in recovery aid.THE CITY: “Still, experts say such a shift could leave New York reeling after major storms that cause protracted damage and typically need major federal dollars to help.”
Partly supportedThe opening says Hamilton told state emergency managers FEMA will shift financial responsibility within six months.THE CITY: “At an annual meeting for state emergency managers on Tuesday, Hamilton indicated FEMA would shift financial responsibility for disaster preparation and recovery to states and localities in the next six months”
SupportedHamilton said, “Federal dollars should be building greater capability, not creating greater dependency.”THE CITY: ““Federal dollars should be building greater capability, not creating greater dependency,” he said in his remarks.”
SupportedAmy Chester said the shift “would be devastating for New York State — and, frankly, any state — and underscores the need for investing in pre-disaster resilience infrastructure to ensure that communities don't suffer in the first place.”THE CITY: ““It would be devastating for New York State — and, frankly, any state — and underscores the need for investing in pre-disaster resilience infrastructure to ensure that communities don’t suffer in the first place,” said Amy Chester”
SupportedNew York State received over $16.5 billion from FEMA in the past 15 years, including for the listed disasters.THE CITY: “New York State received over $16.5 billion from FEMA in the past 15 years, including in response to Hurricane Irene in 2011, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Ida in 2021 and Tropical Storm Lee in 2023, according to figures from the state comptroller’s office.”
SupportedHochul spokesperson Jess D’Amelia said, “Any attempt by the Trump administration to cut financial assistance to communities stricken by disaster is an abdication of their responsibilities and is indefensible.”THE CITY: ““Any attempt by the Trump administration to cut financial assistance to communities stricken by disaster is an abdication of their responsibilities and is indefensible,” said spokesperson Jess D’Amelia.”
SupportedEdwards said, “As we approach the 14th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, which took 44 New Yorkers' lives and caused billions of dollars in damage, it is unconscionable that the federal government would cut disaster aid without a clear plan or timeline — leaving cities and states without the resources or certainty they need to prepare.”THE CITY: ““As we approach the 14th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, which took 44 New Yorkers’ lives and caused billions of dollars in damage, it is unconscionable that the federal government would cut disaster aid without a clear plan or timeline — leaving cities and states without the resources or certainty they need to prepare,” Edwards said in a statement.”
SupportedWollenhaupt said, “Federal assistance is meant to support state and local response, not to replace it, and cannot make individuals or communities whole after a disaster.”THE CITY: ““Federal assistance is meant to support state and local response, not to replace it, and cannot make individuals or communities whole after a disaster,” he said.”
SupportedStancil said, “It doesn't make sense, just in terms of efficiency and economies of scale, for every state to try to reproduce what FEMA does. That's why FEMA exists. It's nonsensical to imagine that states could do this all by themselves.”THE CITY: ““It doesn’t make sense, just in terms of efficiency and economies of scale, for every state to try to reproduce what FEMA does. That’s why FEMA exists. It’s nonsensical to imagine that states could do this all by themselves.””
SupportedMeng said, “The Northeast has never weathered a superstorm alone. Irene, Sandy, Ida: Each time, federal disaster assistance pulled communities out of the wreckage and helped us rebuild.”THE CITY: ““The Northeast has never weathered a superstorm alone. Irene, Sandy, Ida: Each time, federal disaster assistance pulled communities out of the wreckage and helped us rebuild,” she said.”