Trump proposes 'getting rid of FEMA' during WNC visit with families impacted by Helene

Saturday, January 25, 2025
Families share long road to recovery in WNC amid Trump's visit
Families in western NC are grateful for what's being done to help them recover after Helene.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- President Donald Trump visited North Carolina for the first time since being back in office.

Trump toured areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. His focus was on the community's ongoing recovery efforts.

"I'm pleased to announce that under our leadership, the federal government will be surging housing solutions to the state that go beyond mere temporary hotel stays that ended up being very short term. The government wouldn't do it any longer, which is ridiculous," Trump said. "We'll marshal all available resources to bring back potable water and make your water and infrastructure dramatically more reliable very quickly. Today, I'll also be signing an executive order, slashing all red tape and bureaucratic barriers and permits to ensure the rapid reconstruction of the roads here in western North Carolina. We're going to go through a permitting process that's called no permitting. Just get it done."

Gov. Josh Stein greeted Trump at Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher when he arrived. The President was accompanied by first lady Melania Trump and several NC House representatives.

"It's a positive signal that President Trump made his first visit outside the capital as President to our mountains," Stein said. "I thanked the president for coming and asked for his support of $20 billion in additional disaster relief and for 100% reimbursement of eligible FEMA expenses for another six months.

Four months after Hurricane Helene, many in western North Carolina told of how they're still suffering.

"Families, businesses, and communities are struggling and need these urgent resources to help them rebuild," Stein said. "I look forward to working with the Trump Administration in the coming weeks and months to get people what they need to rebuild and recover."

One of the president's first stops was in Fletcher. There, during a Hurricane Helene recovery briefing, Trump said he is considering "getting rid of" FEMA.

"FEMA has been a very big disappointment," the Republican president said. "It's very bureaucratic. And it's very slow. Other than that, we're very happy with them."

Asked by a reporter whether there were discussions about taking funding from FEMA and distributing it directly to local groups instead, Trump replied: "That's what I want to do. We want to bring it locally so that a state takes care of its problem, and then they can bring it down to a local level like Samaritan's Purse and Franklin."

Some of his conservative allies have proposed reducing how much the agency reimburses states for handling floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other calamities, ABC News reports.

WATCH FULL BRIEFING | President Trump speaks on Hurricane Helene recovery

During his remarks, Trump said he may sign an executive order to "fundamentally overhaul or get of FEMA."

Trump said Michael Whatley, chair of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate recovery efforts in the state. Whatley is a North Carolina native but does not hold an official government position.

Trump emphasized his desire to help the battleground state that's voted for him in all of his presidential campaign. He also reiterated that he wants to extract concessions from the Democratic-led state in return for disaster assistance. This includes changes to water policies and requirements that voters need to show identification when casting ballots.

Beyond Trump's criticisms of FEMA, he's suggested a dramatic overhaul of the federal government's role in responding to disasters.

"I'd like to see the states take care of disasters," he said after landing in the Asheville area. "Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen."

Trump said this would be quicker than sending in FEMA.

"FEMA just hasn't done the job," the president said. "We're looking at the whole concept of FEMA."

The agency helps respond to disasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, a signal that the damage is beyond the state's ability to handle on its own. FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts such as debris removal, and it gives stopgap financial assistance to individual residents. Some of Trump's conservative allies have proposed reducing how much money the agency should provide.

Trump has criticized former President Joe Biden for his administration's response to Helene. As he left the White House on Friday morning, he told reporters that "it's been a horrible thing the way that's been allowed to fester" since the storm hit in September, and "we're going to get it fixed up."

WATCH | Trump answers questions from press on tarmac at Asheville Regional Airport

Trump visited WNC to tour Helene damage and meeting with residents.

After the briefing recovery efforts, Trump traveled to Swannanoa to meet with residents who have been helped by Samaritan's Purse, a humanitarian organization headed by evangelical leader Franklin Graham.

Trump heard from Swannanoa residents including the pastor of Eagle Rock Church, Ramona Nix, and also beneficiaries of Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse including Chris and Kim West, Thomas Bright and Jackie Mitchell, Curtis A. Wright, Amber Wright, and Curtis B. Wright.

Residents shared their experiences escaping the storm and after, sharing various levels of frustrations with FEMA, with some saying "they did what they could," and others saying "it's been a nightmare" and they feel "completely forgotten."

Trump stood to the left of residents as they spoke at the podium, occasionally asking questions about the status of their homes or families. Melania Trump stood near and hugged a few of the individuals after they shared their stories.

The last time Trump visited Swannanoa, one of the towns hit the hardest by the storm, was in October during his campaign.

US Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, praised the president's visit.

"President Trump's visit is a welcome display of leadership as Western North Carolina recovers from damage and devastation left behind by Helene," Tillis said in a statement. "Although I was unable to attend due to the Senate being in session, I want to thank him for traveling to North Carolina to witness the damage firsthand. Throughout the transition, both President Trump and Vice President Vance repeatedly reached out to me to check in on how Western North Carolina was doing. That is a testament to how high of a priority the recovery and rebuilding process is for them. Under President Biden, FEMA's failure to act and communicate swiftly put vulnerable families at risk with freezing temperatures outside. Despite our continued pressure, FEMA made little progress in providing direct housing solutions for those most affected by Helene. Things will be changing under President Trump, and his visit shows his Administration is committed to the people of Western North Carolina as he promised during the campaign. I look forward to working with the Trump-Vance Administration to ensure that every available federal resource is deployed and that red tape preventing families from accessing housing is eliminated."

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said Trump's visit also provided hope for farmers and other agricultural businesses.

"It was encouraging to see that western North Carolina and disaster relief efforts were top of mind for President Trump and the first lady because the commitment of federal resources will be critical for recovery and rebuilding," Troxler said. "Our farmers are hurting along with many others across the country, and the disasters in 2024 only added to the intense pressure they are under ... I look forward to working with the Trump administration to help our farmers and residents."

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards, R-NC said he "had the privilege"of showing how federal disaster money he helped procure were working in the aftermath of Helene.

"The president also witnessed the resilience of western North Carolinians whose lives have been turned upside down by Hurricane Helene, and his presence sent a strong message to the people of our mountains that we are not forgotten," Edwards said. "I will continue to fight for every dollar that is needed to help WNC rebuild and look forward to working with President Trump and my House colleagues to fix FEMA so that our nation is fully prepared to respond to future disasters."

Later on Friday, Trump visited Southern California as the state continues to battle wildfires.

Helene recovery efforts in NC

A month after Helene, North Carolina state lawmakers signed off on a measure to provide $604 million more toward Hurricane Helene's recovery and relief and also directed some storm-affected counties.

In November, North Carolina lawmakers passed a bill that would give more money to WNC recovery efforts, however, Senate Bill 382 weakened the power of now-Governor Josh Stein, the attorney general Jeff Jackson and the state Superintendent, Maurice Greene. Former Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill and lawmakers voted to override it. It became law in December. Cooper and Stein have filed a lawsuit related to the bill.

Since taking office, Governor Josh Stein has visited the area and appointed a former Wake County Commissioner to head up the WNC recovery team.

Stein said in his inauguration speech that building WNC back is a main priority.

SEE ALSO | Governor Josh Stein prioritizes Helene recovery in first executive orders

ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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