Congress will take another look at federal disaster policy this week as counties continue pushing for changes to how the federal government prepares for and responds to disasters.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on July 15 to examine federal disaster assistance and potential reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The committee will consider the FEMA Act (H.R. 4669) alongside recommendations from the President’s FEMA Review Council, which, in May, proposed sweeping changes to federal disaster policy.
Among the recommendations are higher thresholds for federal disaster declarations, greater state responsibility for disaster recovery, and a smaller federal role in routine disasters. Many of the proposals would require congressional action, making this hearing an early opportunity for lawmakers to begin evaluating potential changes to FEMA and the nation’s disaster response framework.
Witnesses include former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate; Cynthia Lee Sheng, president of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; Jim Matheson, chief executive officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; Brian Waller, vice president of external relations for Shelter Mutual Insurance Company; and Chuck Chaitovitz, vice president of environmental affairs and sustainability for the US Chamber of Commerce.
The hearing follows months of discussion about FEMA’s future and the federal government’s role in disaster response and recovery. Counties have focused on improving coordination, expediting assistance, and ensuring that federal policies account for the responsibilities local governments bear before, during, and after a disaster.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) brought county leaders to Washington earlier this year through its Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force. The task force continues working with federal policymakers on changes to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Maryland has a seat at the table. Baltimore City Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton serves on NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force and on the MACo Board of Directors, helping bring Maryland county priorities into the national discussion.
The issue has immediate relevance for Maryland. Severe flooding and storms in Western Maryland strained local emergency operations and county budgets. FEMA denied Maryland’s request for disaster assistance, leaving Allegany and Garrett counties to continue recovery efforts without federal aid.
The Maryland General Assembly also addressed emergency management funding during the 2026 legislative session. MACo supported legislation directing the University System of Maryland to study how the State funds emergency management and recommend a more sustainable structure. Lawmakers also approved changes to the State Disaster Recovery Fund to help the State respond to counties’ disaster-related costs.
The committee will hold the hearing at 10:00 a.m. on July 15. As Congress considers changes to FEMA and federal disaster policy, counties will continue advocating for a system that provides timely, reliable support when communities need it most.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
