New Jersey’s Senator Andy Kim, serving as Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Subcommittee overseeing FEMA, has joined colleagues in a forceful pushback against proposed workforce reductions at the agency. Alongside Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, Ranking Member of the full committee, Kim led a coalition of Democratic Senators in demanding that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem halt plans that would further reduce FEMA staff during a period of critical understaffing, warning that these cuts could undermine the agency’s ability to respond to disasters and protect communities nationwide.
In a strongly worded letter, the Senators highlighted the ongoing fallout from previous workforce reductions, including actions under the Trump administration that severely impacted FEMA’s readiness. They emphasized that Department of Homeland Security-mandated cuts violate the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA), legislation designed to prevent exactly this type of erosion of disaster response capabilities after the failings exposed by Hurricane Katrina. Special attention was paid to the proposed reductions of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees (CORE), who comprise roughly 40 percent of FEMA’s deployable workforce. These employees are essential for rapid deployment to disaster zones, assisting in both response and recovery operations.
“Reducing CORE employees at a time when FEMA’s workforce is already severely understaffed will make our nation less prepared to help communities before, during, and after disasters,” the Senators wrote, underscoring the immediate risks to public safety. The letter also cited findings from the Government Accountability Office showing that staffing deficits have reached nearly 35 percent across critical positions, a shortfall that directly hampers FEMA’s ability to fulfill its statutory mission. The Senators warned that additional personnel reductions reported in 2025 threaten to further erode federal disaster response capabilities just as climate-driven emergencies and other crises continue to increase.
The letter was co-signed by Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), reflecting a broad, bipartisan recognition of FEMA’s critical role. The coalition made it clear that unilateral staffing decisions not only endanger public safety but may also constitute a statutory violation, given PKEMRA’s explicit prohibitions against actions that significantly diminish FEMA’s operational capacity.
FEMA’s CORE employees are on the front lines of disaster response, often mobilized on short notice to areas impacted by hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other emergencies. With staffing already below statutory targets, the Senators emphasized that any further cuts would exacerbate vulnerabilities in disaster response and recovery operations. The letter frames the issue not just as an administrative dispute but as a matter of public safety, highlighting the tangible consequences of understaffing during crises.
Senator Kim underscored New Jersey’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and climate-driven emergencies, pointing to the state’s coastline, urban centers, and densely populated communities as areas where FEMA’s presence is particularly critical. By pressing for the preservation of the CORE workforce, Kim and his colleagues aim to ensure that FEMA retains the operational flexibility and manpower necessary to respond effectively to disasters and protect citizens’ lives and livelihoods.
The issue has broader implications for federal disaster readiness, as workforce reductions in one agency can ripple across emergency management systems nationwide. By taking a public stand, the Senators signal their commitment to holding DHS accountable and preserving the effectiveness of one of the nation’s most critical emergency response agencies. For ongoing coverage of New Jersey’s role in federal disaster preparedness and related high school sports community initiatives, this debate continues to draw attention from both policymakers and the public, highlighting the intersection of governance, safety, and civic responsibility.
