For decades, FEMA has been a critical lifeline for Guam in the aftermath of devastating typhoons and other emergencies. 

Without FEMA, questions arise about how Guam will cope with future disasters.

Senator Shawn Gumataotao, Chairperson for the Committee on Emergency Management said he views the President’s decision as an opportunity to assess FEMA’s operations.

“I think that the President has every opportunity to do that. That is his function. He looks at all of the executive branch and that, really, is his role,” said Gumataotao. “It makes sense right now, considering some of the response in North Carolina, more particularly for our region, with Mawar, and the fires on Maui.”

Gumataotao pointed out that this is not the first time the Executive Branch has ordered a review of the agency.

In light of FEMA’s recent responses to disasters across America, he said he’s not giving up on the agency as they’ve been a critical partner for Guam.

However, Gumataotao added, “Maybe they’re not as responsive in certain parts of the recovery or preparedness side of the house, but I think that’s where President Trump has the opportunity to look at what worked over the last four years, what hasn’t, and make substantive changes to make it a better FEMA.”

If FEMA were to be dismantled as an agency, the senator said Guam's government would need to seriously consider how to finance emergency management at the local level.

“I think there would have to be a hard look at our government finances and how much money will the government use for emergency management. It would have to be a priority,” said Gumataotao.

Gumataotao added Guam has to be a part of the process of a potential reconfiguring to ensure that the U.S.’s mission to support its people in its territories is fulfilled.

“We cannot forget our Guam delegate, James Moylan. He’ll have a voice as well. And I think that we have a great history with FEMA,” added Gumataotao. 

Gumataotao remains hopeful that Guam's leaders will be involved in future dialogues surrounding FEMA’s structure and how it will serve the territories moving forward.

KUAM reached out to all senators in the 38th Guam Legislature for a response. 

We will have their comments below.

 In response, Sen. Will Parkinson states, “According to the President’s proposal, responsibility for disaster management would be shifted to individual states and territories supported by private contractors. Congressman Moylan recently secured $500,825,000 as part of the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery allocation for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Declaration associated with Mawar. Under President Trump's proposal would that money instead be given to the local government to directly administer and contract out? I think there's a lot to consider.”

Sen. Jesse Lujan said, "I would strongly oppose. As you know, we’re still grappling with ongoing issues surrounding the misuse or underutilization of ARP funding and other federal resources, which raises serious concerns about readiness and accountability. That said, if I had to ultimately choose, I would lean toward undecided. My Republican colleagues are pushing for greater transparency and accountability in how these funds are managed, which gives me hope for meaningful reforms. However, without a clear and comprehensive plan from the President and his administration, it's impossible to make a firm decision based on incomplete information. For Guam, where we face unique challenges due to our geographic isolation and vulnerability to natural disasters, it’s especially critical that any changes to FEMA or emergency management policies address our specific needs and ensure we are not left at risk. Guam deserves tailored solutions, not one-size-fits-all approaches, and we need to see those details before making decisions that could significantly impact our island’s preparedness."

Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane said, "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extremely important to all Americans, including all of us here on Guam when it comes to recovering from disasters. For the last six decades, FEMA has been assisting Guam residents with picking up the pieces after every major natural disaster. President Donald Trump knows this very well and I believe his recent statement simply expresses his desire to improve FEMA’s efficacy and efficiency. He wants to get rid of wasteful spending and ensure services are being provided swiftly and with impartiality so that all Americans trying to survive after the devastation of a natural disaster can be made whole as soon as possible. In President Trump’s January 24th Executive Order he mentioned standing up the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council to advise him on the changes needed to improve the agency. I look forward to the findings and recommendations of their assessment."