Federal Judge Rules Trump-Era Plan to Cut FEMA Staff Was Unlawful

A federal judge has ruled that a plan by the Trump administration to cut staffing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by 50% was unlawful. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, sided with labor groups who argued the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) plan violated congressional protections for FEMA's independence.

Illston wrote that DHS officials had directed FEMA leadership to submit a staffing plan that included the 50% cut, even though FEMA supervisors objected. The judge stated that the proposed staffing number "appears as if pulled from thin air" and that the government violated rules established after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. These rules placed decisions on staffing levels with FEMA and prevented DHS from "substantially" reducing the agency's functions.

The staffing cuts were part of a broader Trump administration initiative to reduce the federal workforce. Although terminations did occur, the 50% staffing reduction was ultimately not implemented. In recent months, following changes in leadership at FEMA and DHS, the agency has begun rehiring some former staff.

A FEMA Review Council submitted a report in May that recommended sweeping changes to how the agency supports states, tribes, and territories during disasters. However, the final version of this report moved away from the proposed 50% workforce reduction, instead recommending a "strategic review" to determine appropriate staffing levels. This recommendation was a change from a December 2025 draft that had included the 50% cut.

In August, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that departures of thousands of FEMA staff in the 2025 budget year resulted in a "loss of institutional knowledge and experienced personnel" and exacerbated existing workforce challenges. The GAO noted that more than 4,300 employees, approximately 17% of FEMA's workforce, separated from the agency during that fiscal year, with over 1,500 through voluntary reductions, while the agency also made about 2,900 new hires.

The GAO recommended that Congress "consider requiring" FEMA to base significant workforce decisions on a more strategic planning process, finding that without such a process, FEMA cannot ensure it is positioned to effectively meet its mission needs.

Judge Illston did not order a specific remedy but directed both sides to meet and determine a course of relief. Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor FEMA immediately responded to requests for comment.