The Federal Emergency Management Agency reduced its workforce without first assessing how the cuts would affect its ability to respond to disasters, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
The watchdog found FEMA has continued to face longstanding staffing shortages while making workforce reduction decisions in 2025 and proposing additional changes for 2026 without conducting strategic workforce planning.
Departures Surge as Staffing Challenges Grow
FEMA employed an average of about 25,100 workers during fiscal year 2025, but more than 4,300 employees left the agency during the year—a 55% increase in departures compared with fiscal year 2024.
According to the report, the increase has reduced institutional knowledge and worsened existing workforce challenges, making it more difficult for the agency to support disaster response and recovery efforts.
No Strategic Workforce Plan in Place
GAO found FEMA rescinded its strategic plan in 2025 and has not replaced it, leaving the agency without a clear framework for determining its future staffing needs.
The report also found FEMA did not analyze whether it had enough employees with the necessary skills before implementing workforce reductions or proposing future personnel changes. As a result, the agency cannot determine whether it has the workforce needed to meet its legal responsibilities and respond effectively to increasingly frequent and complex disasters.
GAO Calls for Greater Oversight
The watchdog urged Congress to require FEMA to base major workforce decisions on formal workforce planning and to report its staffing analysis before each hurricane season.
GAO also recommended FEMA develop a new strategic plan with clear goals and establish a workforce planning process that evaluates current staffing levels and future workforce needs. The Department of Homeland Security agreed with the recommendations.
