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The Reconsolidation of FEMA Under the DHS

The Reconsolidation of FEMA Under the DHS. Function or Folly?. FEMA pre 9/11. Was a Cabinet level Department Was its own entity The Director of FEMA reported directly to the President Had its own budget More or less. FEMA Post 9/11. In 2003 was consolidated under DHS

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The Reconsolidation of FEMA Under the DHS

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  1. The Reconsolidation of FEMA Under the DHS Function or Folly?

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

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

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

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

  6. 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.’

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

  8. Proof • Hurricane Katrina and Rita • Declining Morale • No visible benefits

  9. Solutions • FEMA should be its own 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

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