Hurricane Trouble For Trump

Meteorologists at NOAA announced Thursday that the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be more active than usual, with predictions pointing to between 13 and 19 named storms. Of those, three to five could reach Category 3 strength or higher. Although this season may not be as intense as last year’s, officials emphasized that it only takes one major storm in the wrong place to cause significant damage.

This forecast comes at a time when the Trump administration is considering significant changes to FEMA, the federal agency responsible for coordinating disaster response. President Trump’s proposed budget includes over $646 million in cuts to FEMA, along with executive orders aimed at transferring more responsibility for emergency management to individual states. While fully dismantling FEMA would require congressional approval, discussions about restructuring and downsizing are already underway.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking earlier in the week, underscored the administration’s goal of shifting emergency management responsibilities to the states, stating that the federal government should play more of a support role during disasters. This approach has raised concerns about preparedness, especially with hurricane season just around the corner.

NOAA leaders addressed these concerns during the release of the forecast in Gretna, Louisiana a location chosen to mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Despite broader staffing cuts across various federal agencies, acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm assured reporters that the National Hurricane Center is fully staffed and ready. Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service, also said interest in federal weather briefings remains strong among key agencies, including FEMA, even with reduced resources.

However, not all signs are reassuring. Reports have emerged that David Richardson, the new acting head of FEMA, lacks experience in disaster response and acknowledged in closed-door meetings that a comprehensive hurricane response plan has not yet been finalized. An internal FEMA review recently leaked to the media warned that the agency is not adequately prepared for the coming season, with its new, scaled-back structure not yet fully understood.

Since that revelation, FEMA has reportedly taken steps to strengthen its preparedness efforts, but questions remain. States like Louisiana, Florida, and Texas are likely to face significant strain in the event of major storms, particularly if federal assistance becomes more limited. Louisiana alone has received more FEMA aid than any other state since 2015, making its officials particularly vocal in expressing concern over the administration’s direction.

Colorado State University issued a similar forecast last month, also predicting an above-normal hurricane season with 17 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four classified as major. Although hurricane season officially begins on June 1, forecasters have been monitoring conditions since mid-May. So far, the Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean remain quiet, but activity typically peaks in August and September. As preparations continue, communities along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard are watching closely, knowing that just one storm could define the season.