GAO finds FEMA cut staff without assessing impact on disaster response

The Government Accountability Office released a report stating that FEMA cut more than 4,300 workers, about 17% of its staff, during fiscal 2025 without assessing the impact on its disaster response mission. The agency also let hundreds of temporary Core on-call employees lose their contracts and operated under a hiring freeze that allowed only “essential” hires. In May 2025, FEMA withdrew its strategic workforce plan and has not yet produced a replacement, leaving it without a framework to gauge future staffing requirements.

GAO highlighted that neither DHS nor FEMA evaluated whether voluntary separation programs or contract non-renewals would hinder mission readiness. The watchdog urged FEMA to develop a comprehensive strategic plan and conduct a workforce analysis, but implementation depends on confirming a new Senate-approved administrator. Lawmakers have criticized the cuts and are advancing legislation to restructure FEMA as an independent cabinet department.