Press Releases

Chester, PA — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today was joined by Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and Sarah McBride (DE-AL) at the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art in Chadds Ford to highlight the risks of dismantling agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which includes the National Weather Service (NWS), and reducing resources aimed at addressing climate resilience. 

Photos from the event can be found here.

Since January, the Trump administration has proposed drastic cuts to FEMA and NWS, including slashing critical grant programs to address flood resilience, eliminating agency personnel, and even shuttering FEMA entirely. 

“As we see more extreme weather events impacting our region, the National Weather Service and FEMA are even more critical to predicting and responding to those weather events when they impact our communities,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Cutting funding to these vital agencies and the services they provide will not only endanger our communities but prevent them from fully recovering after a disaster. I will continue to fight for essential programs and funding so individuals, businesses, and organizations in PA-05 can access federal support when they need it.”

"Flooding and destruction from hurricanes and other climate catastrophes are not limited to coastal communities, as Hurricane Ida and its aftermath tragically illustrated," said Rep. Houlahan. "Our communities are still recovering from that and subsequent storm damage, and the Trump administration's slashing of National Weather Service and FEMA funding, firing their staffs and dismantling their infrastructure is both irrational and dangerous, not only for our constituents but all Americans."

“As the lowest-lying state in the nation, we know the devastating impact from rising water and powerful storms,” said Rep. McBride. “We’ve seen how important FEMA and the National Weather Service are when it comes to saving lives, protecting property, and helping communities recover. Cutting their funding puts families in danger. I’m proud to stand with Reps. Scanlon and Houlahan today to highlight the urgent need to protect these agencies. Delaware understands better than most: when disaster strikes, these agencies help keep us safe and ensure we can rebuild.”

In September 2021, Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art experienced devastating flooding from Hurricane Ida, resulting in more than $10 million in structural and equipment damages. Nearly four years later, the museum is still recovering. Thanks to FEMA and additional state funding, Brandywine completed a number of repairs and is in the final stages of recovery — “flood hardening” — which will help the museum withstand future flooding events.

In the administration’s budget request submitted to Congress in May, President Trump proposed cutting $2.2 billion from NOAA, which houses NWS. The NWS is responsible for issuing watches, warnings, and advisories to alert the public and emergency responders about potential flooding.

The President has also called for shuttering FEMA in favor of moving disaster funding and response to the states. In its budget request, the administration proposed cutting nearly $1 billion in grant funding from FEMA that communities and first responders nationwide use to better prepare for disasters and to bolster security. In April, the administration announced the termination of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, leading to multiple previously awarded grants being terminated; the BRIC program was a major source of funding for climate resilience projects. 

###