[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