The Reconsolidation of FEMA Under the DHS Function or Folly?

FEMA pre 9/11 Was a Cabinet level Department Was a Cabinet level Department Was its own entity Was its own entity The Director of FEMA reported directly to the President The Director of FEMA reported directly to the President Had its own budget Had its own budget More or less More or less

FEMA Post 9/11 In 2003 was consolidated under DHS In 2003 was consolidated under DHS The Director became an Undersecretary to the Secretary of DHS The Director became an Undersecretary to the Secretary of DHS Budget is controlled through the DHS for “counter-terrorism” purposes Budget is controlled through the DHS for “counter-terrorism” purposes

DHS Third Largest Department Third Largest Department Consolidated agencies from almost ten departments Consolidated agencies from almost ten departments Includes Includes TSA (Transportation) TSA (Transportation) Secret Service (Treasury) Secret Service (Treasury) INS (Justice) INS (Justice) US Coast Guard (Transportation) US Coast Guard (Transportation) Energy Security and Assurance Program (Energy) Energy Security and Assurance Program (Energy)

Function Consolidated multiple related agencies under the control of FEMA Consolidated multiple related agencies under the control of FEMA Office for Domestic Preparedness (Justice) Office for Domestic Preparedness (Justice) Nuclear Incident Response Team (Energy) Nuclear Incident Response Team (Energy) Domestic Emergency Support Teams (Justice) Domestic Emergency Support Teams (Justice) National Domestic Preparedness Office (FBI) National Domestic Preparedness Office (FBI)

Folly ‘[T]he shift would make a mockery of FEMA's new motto, "A Nation Prepared," and would "fundamentally sever FEMA from its core functions," "shatter agency morale," and "break longstanding, effective and tested relationships with states and first responder stakeholders…’The inevitable result’ would be "an ineffective and uncoordinated response" to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster.’ ‘[T]he shift would make a mockery of FEMA's new motto, "A Nation Prepared," and would "fundamentally sever FEMA from its core functions," "shatter agency morale," and "break longstanding, effective and tested relationships with states and first responder stakeholders…’The inevitable result’ would be "an ineffective and uncoordinated response" to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster.’

Folly Michael Brown, Director of FEMA, in a memo to DHS Secretary Tom Ridge dated Sept. 15, 2003 Michael Brown, Director of FEMA, in a memo to DHS Secretary Tom Ridge dated Sept. 15, 2003

Proof Hurricane Katrina and Rita Hurricane Katrina and Rita Declining Morale Declining Morale No visible benefits No visible benefits

Solutions FEMA should be its own Agency FEMA should be its own Agency Reestablish FEMA as a Cabinet level Agency Reestablish FEMA as a Cabinet level Agency Redirect the focus of FEMA from a anti- terror position to that of a disaster response/recovery position Redirect the focus of FEMA from a anti- terror position to that of a disaster response/recovery position