The future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hangs in the balance as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem plans to eliminate the agency, which has historically played a crucial role in disaster recovery, particularly during a surge in climate-related disasters. Officials and lawmakers across the political spectrum are voicing concerns over the implications of such a move, especially as major disasters in the U.S. have been declared at an alarming rate. Local disaster officials in several states, including Vermont, express fears that without FEMA, they would struggle to manage disaster responses effectively. Critics, including Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz and others, warn that dismantling FEMA could leave states ill-prepared to handle crises on their own, prompting calls for bipartisan reforms. As discussions intensify, the impact of potential cuts is particularly looming for Gulf South and Mid-Atlantic states that could bear the brunt of these changes.