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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 20 (Friday, January 31, 2025)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 8743-8745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02173]



                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 20 / Friday, January 31, 2025 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 8743]]

                Executive Order 14180 of January 24, 2025

                
Council To Assess the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Purpose and Policy. The Federal responses to 
                Hurricane Helene and other recent disasters demonstrate 
                the need to drastically improve the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency's (``FEMA's'') efficacy, priorities, 
                and competence, including evaluating whether FEMA's 
                bureaucracy in disaster response ultimately harms the 
                agency's ability to successfully respond. Despite 
                obligating nearly $30 billion in disaster aid each of 
                the past three years, FEMA has managed to leave 
                vulnerable Americans without the resources or support 
                they need when they need it most.

                There are serious concerns of political bias in FEMA. 
                Indeed, at least one former FEMA responder has stated 
                that FEMA managers directed her to avoid homes of 
                individuals supporting the campaign of Donald J. Trump 
                for President. And it has lost mission focus, diverting 
                limited staff and resources to support missions beyond 
                its scope and authority, spending well over a billion 
                dollars to welcome illegal aliens.

                Americans deserve an immediate, effective, and 
                impartial response to and recovery from disasters. FEMA 
                therefore requires a full-scale review, by individuals 
                highly experienced at effective disaster response and 
                recovery, who shall recommend to the President 
                improvements or structural changes to promote the 
                national interest and enable national resilience.

                Sec. 2. Establishment. (a) There is hereby established 
                the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council 
                (``Council'').

                    (b) The Council shall be composed of not more than 
                20 members. The Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
                Secretary of Defense shall be members of the Council. 
                The remaining members shall include relevant agency 
                heads and distinguished individuals and representatives 
                from sectors outside of the Federal Government 
                appointed by the President. These non-Federal members 
                shall have diverse perspectives and expertise in 
                disaster relief and assistance, emergency preparedness, 
                natural disasters, Federal-State relationships, and 
                budget management.
                    (c) The Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
                Secretary of Defense shall serve as Co-Chairs of the 
                Council. The Co-Chairs may designate up to two Vice 
                Chairs of the Council from among the non-Federal 
                members of the Council, to support the Co-Chairs in the 
                leadership and organization of the Council.

                Sec. 3. Functions. (a) The Council shall advise the 
                President, through the Assistant to the President for 
                National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the 
                President for Homeland Security, and the Director of 
                the Office of Management and Budget, on the existing 
                ability of FEMA to capably and impartially address 
                disasters occurring within the United States and shall 
                advise the President on all recommended changes related 
                to FEMA to best serve the national interest.

                    (b) The Council shall meet regularly and shall:

(i) respond to requests from the President, through the Assistant to the 
President for National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for 
Homeland Security Affairs, the Director of the Office of Management

[[Page 8744]]

and Budget, or the Co-Chairs for information, analysis, evaluation, or 
advice;

(ii) solicit information and ideas from a broad range of stakeholders, 
including Americans affected by natural disasters; the research community; 
the private sector; State, local, and Tribal governments; foundations; and 
nonprofit organizations;

                    (c) The Council shall produce a report for the 
                President that includes the following:

(i) An assessment of the adequacy of FEMA's response to disasters during 
the previous 4 years, including sufficiency of staffing;

(ii) A comparison of the FEMA responses with State, local, and private 
sector responses--including timeliness of response, supplies provided, 
efficacy, and services (including communications and electricity) 
provided--during the same period;

(iii) An account of the commentary and debate about the role and operation 
of FEMA in our Federal system and about the functioning of disaster relief, 
assistance, and preparedness in the United States;

(iv) The historical background of other periods in the Nation's history 
both before FEMA was part of DHS and before FEMA existed and methods by 
which disaster aid and relief were then provided;

(v) The traditional role of States and their coordination with the Federal 
Government in securing the life, liberty, and property of their citizens in 
preparation for, during, and after disasters;

(vi) An evaluation of whether FEMA can serve its functions as a support 
agency, providing supplemental Federal assistance, to the States rather 
than supplanting State control of disaster relief;

(vii) Other recommended improvements to FEMA in the current statutory 
structure; and

(viii) An analysis of the principal arguments in the public debate for and 
against FEMA reform, including an appraisal of the merits and legality of 
particular reform proposals.

                    (d) The Council shall solicit public comment, 
                including other expert views, to ensure that its work 
                is informed by a broad spectrum of ideas.
                    (e) The Council shall hold its first public meeting 
                within 90 days of the date of this order and submit its 
                report to the President within 180 days of the date of 
                the Council's first public meeting.

                Sec. 4. Administration. (a) The heads of executive 
                departments and agencies shall, to the extent permitted 
                by law, provide the Council with information concerning 
                disaster preparedness and relief matters when requested 
                by the Council Co-Chairs and as required for the 
                purpose of carrying out the Council's functions.

                    (b) In consultation with the Co-Chairs, the Council 
                is authorized to create standing subcommittees and ad 
                hoc groups, including technical advisory groups, to 
                assist the Council and provide preliminary information 
                directly to the Council.
                    (c) The Department of Homeland Security shall 
                provide such funding and administrative and technical 
                support as the Council may require, to the extent 
                permitted by law and as authorized by existing 
                appropriations.
                    (d) Members of the Council shall serve without any 
                compensation for their work on the Council, but may 
                receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
                subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving 
                intermittently in the government service (5 U.S.C. 
                5701-5707).
                    (e) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
                as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), may apply to the Council, 
                any functions of the President under that Act, except 
                that of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed 
                by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in accordance 
                with the guidelines and procedures established by the 
                Administrator of General Services.

[[Page 8745]]

                Sec. 5. Termination. The Council shall terminate 1 year 
                from the date of this order unless extended by the 
                President.

                Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or 
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    January 24, 2025.

[FR Doc. 2025-02173
Filed 1-30-25; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P
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