NEWS: Congressmen Greg Casar, Joe Neguse Introduce Legislation to Reverse Trump’s Cut to Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Response

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Colorado) introduced new legislation to reverse Donald Trump’s dangerous cuts to emergency preparedness and disaster response agencies.

Casar introduced the FEMA Critical Staffing Act which would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reinstate employees fired by Trump and DOGE and reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and the flood mitigation assistance program. The bill is co-led by Rep. Neguse (D-CO) as well as Reps. Gabe Amo (D-RI), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ). 

Neguse introduced the Protect Americans from Climate Disasters Act, which would fund National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the appropriate levels, require the Secretary of Commerce to reinstate NOAA employees fired by Trump and DOGE and to reinstate the Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, NOAA Marine Environmental Buoy Database, NOAA Global Ocean Currents Database. The bill is co-led by Rep. Casar (D-TX) as well as Reps. Gabe Amo (D-RI), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ). 

“We must fully restore Trump’s cuts to natural disaster response to save lives in Texas,” said Congressman Greg Casar. “The July 4th floods were devastating, and more like them could come. Congress must act now.”

“As we continue to face increasing numbers of natural disasters across our country — wildfires, floods, hurricanes — it’s critically important that we equip our communities with the resources they need. Whether it’s the preparedness programs run by NOAA and NWS, or the response and recovery initiatives managed by FEMA, our federal agencies play a crucial role in addressing the increasing frequency of disasters,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “That’s precisely why I’m working with my colleagues to stop the Trump Administration’s dismantling of these agencies. Our bills call for the immediate rehiring of terminated staff, the continuation of critical programs, and the allocation of necessary funding for these institutions to keep delivering for Americans everywhere.”

The bills come on the heels of concerns that the Trump administration’s mismanagement may have harmed emergency preparedness and response at FEMA and NOAA during recent Texas flooding.

Casar previously secured an independent investigation into how NOAA cuts may have hindered response to recent Texas flooding. The Trump Administration previously cancelled a $50 million BRIC grant Casar had secured for Austin. 

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Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio. A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 119th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.