DeSantis: FEMA Is a Bureaucratic Disaster That Must Go

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joined The Ingraham Angle to call for an overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He argued that the agency has become inefficient and wasteful. Instead of relying on FEMA, DeSantis proposed a solution: eliminate the agency and replace it with block grants. This would allow individual states to handle disaster response more effectively.

FEMA’s Failures and Political Bias

DeSantis pointed to FEMA’s failures in past disasters, recalling how many Americans were stranded and living in tents for months. He explained that Florida had to step in repeatedly to do FEMA’s job. The state handled search and rescue, power restoration, and other critical services. While Florida managed to recover, other states did not have the same success.

FEMA’s mismanagement, DeSantis said, goes beyond inefficiency. He referenced reports from Hurricane Milton, where FEMA relief workers were allegedly instructed to skip homes displaying Trump flags. That, he argued, was the final straw. “We could administer it better,” he said. “We would be able to do it far cheaper than FEMA does, and our constituents would actually get a response.”

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States already handle the bulk of disaster relief efforts, from preparation to response. DeSantis questioned why a massive federal agency was needed. Instead, he suggested that disaster relief funds go directly to states through block grants. “Give me $0.75 on the dollar, and that money will go further to help my people than running it through this cumbersome bureaucracy,” he told Laura Ingraham.

Cutting Bureaucracy to Save Taxpayer Dollars

DeSantis’ comments come as former President Donald Trump has also criticized FEMA. Trump recently said the agency should be eliminated entirely, arguing that disaster response should be left to states. He cited cost savings and efficiency as the main reasons. DeSantis agreed, pointing out that FEMA’s massive $65 billion budget would be better spent at the state level. He said local leaders can respond to crises more efficiently without federal red tape.

Beyond disaster relief, DeSantis raised concerns about the unchecked power of federal bureaucracies. He pointed to Elon Musk’s recent efforts to expose government waste. Musk, he argued, is highlighting a problem that Washington politicians refuse to address. “The administrative state has spiraled out of control,” DeSantis said. He urged Congress to rein in unelected bureaucrats.

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Florida, he emphasized, operates on a lean government model. The state has proven that local governments can function effectively without excessive bureaucracy. If similar reforms were applied to Washington, he believes it would be a major victory for the American people.

As discussions over FEMA’s future continue, DeSantis has made his stance clear. He believes states are better equipped to handle disaster relief than Washington’s massive agencies. Whether Congress and the next administration take action remains uncertain. However, he has made it clear that he will continue to push for eliminating what he calls “a disaster zone of an agency.”

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