Pres. Trump appoints Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to council looking to 'streamline' FEMA
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 15: Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd speak at a press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. (Raquel Natal
AUSTIN - Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd will be among the leaders on President Donald Trump's new council to streamline the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA Review Council
President Trump signed an executive order on January 24 to establish the council. The executive order talks about FEMA's bureaucracy and "serious concerns of political bias."
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"It has lost mission focus," reads the order.
The FEMA Review Council will be led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Department of Homeland Security says the group will look to make sure FEMA provides "rapid, efficient and mission-focused" relief to people in need.
The group will then recommend changes to the president.
Members:
The group, announced on Tuesday, features several current and former state and local leaders from across the country.
- Greg Abbott, Governor, State of Texas
- W. Nim Kidd, Chief, Texas Division of Emergency Management
- Phil Bryant, Former Governor, State of Mississippi
- Jane Castor, Mayor, City of Tampa, Florida
- Mark Cooper, Former Chief of Staff, Governor John Bel Edwards
- Rosie Cordero-Stutz, Sheriff, Miami-Dade County
- Evan Greenberg, CEO, Chubb Limited
- Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management
- Michael Whatley, Chairman, Republican National Committee
- Glenn Youngkin, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
- Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Region 9 Administrator and two-time Acting Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Gov. Abbott responds to appointment
What they're saying:
"As Governor of Texas, I have seen firsthand the critical role emergency management plays to protect Texans and our communities when disaster strikes," wrote Abbott in a statement. "I look forward to bringing Texas' proven leadership in emergency management to the national conversation to ensure FEMA bolsters its role as a true partner to state and local governments."
The Source: Information in this article comes from the United States Department of Homeland Security, a Jan. 24 executive order signed by President Trump and a statement from Gov. Greg Abbott.