ATLANTA — Georgia could soon face greater financial responsibility for natural disaster recovery as the Trump administration considers shifting more of the cost of disaster relief from the federal government to individual states.
The White House is reportedly considering changes to how disaster relief is funded, although no official changes have been announced.
Earlier this week, FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton reportedly told a conference in Arkansas that states should begin building financial reserves to provide immediate assistance to residents following natural disasters rather than waiting for federal funding approval.
Hamilton indicated that changes to disaster relief funding could begin within the next six months.
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is pushing back against the potential changes, raising concerns about what they could mean for Georgia and other states.
“The Trump administration is telling folks across the country to prepare to fend for themselves if a natural disaster hits,” Ossoff said.
Ossoff argues that the federal government has a responsibility to assist states recovering from natural disasters.
“It is the duty of the federal government to make sure that they stand in solidarity with state governments and folks across the country in the event of a natural disaster,” Ossoff said.
In a statement, a FEMA spokesperson said the agency is not a first responder but serves as a resource to support local communities when needed.
The spokesperson said FEMA’s primary focus is empowering communities to lead and carry out disaster response and recovery efforts, with federal assistance intended to provide support rather than make communities whole.
A newly released FEMA report also found that disaster relief agencies in many states are understaffed and underfunded, leaving them heavily dependent on federal assistance.
Federal disaster funding has played a significant role in Georgia’s recovery from previous natural disasters.
Following Hurricane Helene in 2024, Georgia received millions of dollars in federal assistance to rebuild infrastructure and help farmers affected by the storm.
Ossoff says members of Congress should work to ensure states continue receiving federal support during disasters.
“Members of Congress work to make sure that Georgia and every state receive the support that we need from the federal government in the event of a disaster,” Ossoff said.
No official changes to federal disaster relief funding have been announced.
WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.