E&E News reporters tackle the changing politics of disasters

By Manuel Quiñones | 08/27/2025 01:58 PM EDT

Hurricane season is underway as the administration works to overhaul federal disaster response and preparedness systems.

Satellite view of Hurricane Erin.

A view of Hurricane Erin in the Atlantic Ocean last week. NOAA via AP

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The Trump administration’s work to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency will go into next year, climate deputy editor and reporter Thomas Frank explained.

Tom also examined how the administration’s philosophy of giving states more responsibility over disaster preparedness and response is playing out.

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“I watch these things pathetically closely and I don’t notice any sort of difference between the way things are being handled now in terms of approvals,” Tom said. “The only thing I’ve noticed that’s different is that FEMA, the administration, is slow-rolling aid.”

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