As FEMA Communications Break Down, Counties Face Growing Uncertainty

As hurricane season ramps up, county emergency managers across the country — including those in Maryland — are facing a troubling lack of clarity from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Recent reporting highlights what state and local officials describe as an unprecedented communication freeze within FEMA, raising serious concerns about delayed disaster funding and weakened readiness nationwide.

FEMA plays a critical role in supporting local emergency management efforts. From pre-disaster mitigation to post-disaster recovery, counties rely on timely and predictable federal grant cycles to maintain personnel, equipment, planning, and coordination.

But as recent changes ripple through the agency, that support system is becoming harder to access — and harder to trust. According to a CNN report, FEMA has issued internal directives limiting staff engagement with Congress, the White House, and even local partners.

Routine updates, coordination calls, and grant timelines have slowed or stopped altogether, leaving emergency officials in the dark about when — or whether — critical funds will arrive. At the same time, significant leadership changes and political appointments have reshaped FEMA’s front office, displacing experienced disaster managers and centralizing decisions through political channels.

The disruption spans multiple programs — from the Homeland Security Grant Program to the Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG), which fund essential local services, including public safety communications, emergency planning, terrorism response, and fire service staffing.

Counties still have not received the fiscal 2025 EMPG application, which typically opens in the spring and is finalized by summer. Without it, local governments can’t plan or budget for critical emergency management functions.

EMPG dollars cover nearly half of many local emergency management budgets and often support broader public safety operations, including law enforcement and fire services.

FEMA and regional offices have offered inconsistent updates, leaving counties uncertain whether the fiscal 2025 and 2026 grant cycles will be combined. The timing — and funding outlook — remains unclear.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, the communication freeze comes amid a broader federal pivot away from national disaster leadership. A recent executive order and related agency directives signal an intent to transfer greater responsibility — and cost — to states and local governments, without a corresponding increase in support or resources.

Maryland county emergency managers have long stressed the importance of a strong federal partnership in disaster planning, mitigation, and response. In May, the MACo County Emergency Managers Affiliate sent letters to Maryland’s congressional delegation calling on federal leaders to:

Preserve FEMA’s national coordination role and keep experienced emergency management professionals in critical positions.
Reverse the abrupt cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which halted millions in shovel-ready county projects aimed at reducing future disaster risks.

County emergency managers rely on steady federal support, not just in funding, but in transparent coordination and open communication. When those connections break down, counties face greater risks and growing responsibilities without the tools to match.

MACo actively engages with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and its Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force, launched in November 2024 to modernize federal disaster policy, enhance intergovernmental coordination, and strengthen local emergency management capacity.

MACo and county emergency managers will continue working through NACo to advocate for clear federal guidance, sustained funding, and stronger county partnerships in disaster preparedness and response.

FEMA Fallout: Facing Federal Funding Flux

The breakdown in federal coordination raises serious questions about the future of emergency preparedness—and how counties can maintain resilience when national support becomes uncertain.

At this year’s MACo Summer Conference, join local emergency leaders for the session, “Fallout: Facing Federal Funding Flux.”

The panel will examine FEMA’s recent communication clampdown, stalled grant programs, and broader shifts in federal disaster policy. Attendees will hear directly from county experts about the operational and fiscal impacts and explore practical steps to safeguard local readiness, tap into alternative resources, and advocate for stronger federal partnerships.

MACo’s Summer Conference, “Resilient. Responsive. Ready.,” is August 13–16, 2025, at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland. This year’s theme is “Funding the Future: The Evolving Role of Local Government.” For more information, please visit the conference website.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: