FEMA halts disaster worker cuts as massive winter storm threatens millions of Americans

[riversedge]

Source: wset.com


by ALEXX ALTMAN-DEVILBISS Fri, January 23, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Updated Fri, January 23, 2026 at 9:46 AM


WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) informed staff on Thursday that disaster worker terminations would be halted due to the massive impending winter storm set to impact at least 160 million Americans.

FEMA said in the email obtained by CNN that it would "cease offboarding" for disaster workers whose employment contracts are set to expire in the coming days. It was not specified how long the pauses would last.

Sources reported that around 300 disaster workers were let go at the start of the new year, with only a handful receiving extensions.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, visited the agency's headquarters ahead of the storm to receive a briefing on preparations.
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Read more: https://wset.com/news/nation-world/fema-federal-emergency-management-agency-halts-disaster-worker-cuts-as-massive-winter-storm-threatens-millions-of-americans-national-weather-service-dhs-noem-snow-sleet-freezing-rain-frigid-temperatures-wind-chill

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Kristie Noem has to go. Period!





Senator Andy Kim
@SenatorAndyKim
·
2h
It shouldn't take the threat of a winter storm for this admin to take disaster preparedness seriously.

I led a demand to end workforce cuts at FEMA with Sen. Peters and will continue to advocate for a FEMA that is prepared to help our communities when disaster strikes.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

1. Noem announced in March 2025 plans to eliminate FEMA, and by May, the acting head of the agency was fired one month befo

https://wset.com/news/nation-world/fema-federal-emergency-management-agency-halts-disaster-worker-cuts-as-massive-winter-storm-threatens-millions-of-americans-national-weather-service-dhs-noem-snow-sleet-freezing-rain-frigid-temperatures-wind-chill

..........Noem announced in March 2025 plans to eliminate FEMA, and by May, the acting head of the agency was fired one month before Hurricane season.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said the "long-duration winter storm" will bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the central and eastern U.S. this weekend and into early next week.

Frigid temperatures, gusty winds, and dangerous wind chills will expand from the north-central U.S. to the Southern Plains, MS Valley, and Midwest, according to the agency.

“FEMA is on the ground and leaning forward, proactively supporting states in the path of this winter storm to ensure a rapid and well-coordinated response. Disasters are best when locally execute, state managed and federally supported, a role we take seriously," FEMA wrote in an internal document seen by CNN.

[riversedge]

2. ''ICE masked men isn't the only reason to impeach Noem. Her incompetence at FEMA literally cost lives in Texas.

Folks on twitter and social media have lots of comments.--most related to Fema demise.



Dan Koh
@dank
·
3h
ICE masked men isn’t the only reason to impeach Noem.

Her incompetence at FEMA literally cost lives in Texas.

This isn’t an isolated failure — it’s a pattern of impeachable offenses.

Explained 👇🏼


https://x.com/search?q=FEMA&src=typed_query

[Skittles]

3. I see Abbott already has his hand out before the storm even gets here

he'll get what he wants, because he is a Trump humping piece of shit

[Hugin]

4. There's sure to be a motivated FEMA workforce...

With impending layoffs hanging out there at the end of the disaster.

Pathetic.

[Solly Mack]

5. Damn

[Bayard]

6. You're outta here!

Well, until we need you. So efficient.

[mdbl]

7. And I'm sure it breeds loyalty