WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FEMA Review Council appointed by President Donald Trump approved a report on Thursday recommending a series of changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster support programs. The recommendations would shift more responsibility to states, tribes and territories for disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and will be sent to Trump.

The council proposed changing how the federal government determines which disasters to support, how FEMA pays states and other governments for recovery costs, and what kind of assistance survivors receive. Many of the proposed reforms would require congressional action.

Under the current model, FEMA reimburses states and other governments after disaster recovery work is done, with a minimum federal cost share of 75%. The council proposed an upfront payment model in which states would receive money within 30 days of a disaster, with potential for additional payment if costs exceed initial estimates.

Major disaster declarations are made at the discretion of the president and are informed by FEMA damage assessments and a per-capita formula comparing costs against local population. The council recommended establishing a parametric threshold, in which pre-defined disaster metrics would trigger federal support. It also recommended raising the threshold for federal disaster aid by more than 50% and changing its calculation so that states would qualify only with higher levels of damage. The report found that adjusting the threshold would have meant 29% of disasters declared between 2012 and 2025 would not have met the indicator, representing $1.5 billion in funding.

For survivors, the council proposed offering a one-time payment instead of providing multiple channels of rental, repair and replacement assistance, and limiting housing assistance to those whose homes are rendered uninhabitable. It recommended that FEMA focus survivor aid on emergency housing and move away from long-term housing assistance, allowing states to run their own housing programs under federal standards.

Florida emergency management director Kevin Guthrie described the approach to states this way: "States, figure it out. Do what's best for you."

The council also recommended shifting most flood insurance policies away from the National Flood Insurance Program to private market policies and aligning premiums more closely with risk. "These recommendations are all about accelerating federal dollars, streamlining the process, making it less bureaucratic so that Americans can get the help they need on the worst day of their lives," said former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

The 12-person council is co-chaired by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and is composed of current and former officials and emergency managers from predominantly Republican-led states. Nearly 6,000 attendees watched the meeting virtually. "A clear direction and an oversight of an agency that is in need of reform, but is still mission capable," Mullin said.

Trump created the council by executive order on the same day he proposed eliminating FEMA after touring destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. He has threatened to dismantle the agency and has repeatedly said he wants to put more responsibility for disaster preparedness, response and recovery on the states.