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DHS begins slashing FEMA disaster response staff as 2026 begins
DHS’s changes end automatic contract renewals for over 8,000 FEMA CORE workers, part of a plan to halve FEMA’s workforce and shift disaster response duties to states.
- On January 2, 2026, the Federal Emergency Management Agency began issuing termination notices effective immediately, abruptly ousting roughly 50 Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery staff.
- As of January 1, 2026, Department of Homeland Security revoked FEMA's authority to renew CORE contracts without approval and argued for the past year FEMA is 'bloated' as part of an overhaul.
- CORE employees account for about 40% of FEMA's workforce, over 8,000 people on temporary contracts, with several thousand contracts ending in 2026 after 2025's limited renewals.
- The cuts mean states may have to shoulder more response costs as some states tighten budgets and lay off local emergency management staff while billions in federal funding backlog remain.
- A FEMA Review Council is expected to soon recommend cutting the agency's workforce in half, but a postponed final meeting this month has left FEMA's future uncertain as DHS gives little guidance.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Exclusive: DHS begins slashing FEMA disaster response staff as 2026 begins
The Trump administration is abruptly cutting dozens of staff who are at the forefront of disaster response and recovery at the Federal Emergency Management Agency this week, according to internal emails obtained by CNN and sources familiar with the plan.
·Atlanta, United States
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Center
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources are Center
69% Center
L 23%
C 69%
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