Presidential Documents

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


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8744 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 20 / Friday, January 31, 2025 / Presidential Documents 

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. 


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

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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