Op-Ed: Rep. Tim Moore: President Donald Trump can Make FEMA Great Again
In his latest op-ed, Rep. Tim Moore explains how President Trump’s visit to Western North Carolina underscores his commitment to putting the American people first.
During my first week in the office, I received a call from a young mother with four children whose FEMA hotel voucher had expired, and she didn’t know if her family would have a place to sleep that night in freezing temperatures. She explained to my staff that she called FEMA, but they had not yet determined if she still qualified for an extension because they did not have the staff to do a home check to see if her home was still uninhabitable.
My team was able to step in and contact FEMA to ensure that she would still have a place to stay, but unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Under the Biden-Harris administration, North Carolinians who have lost everything have fallen through the cracks.
The previous administration's misplaced priorities drained FEMA’s resources, leaving families in desperate need without the help they were promised. While FEMA's budget had been funneled toward covering the cost of failed border policies, disaster-stricken communities in Western North Carolina have been forced to fight for every ounce of aid they should have received without delay.
As Speaker of the North Carolina House, I worked to ensure that our state provided aid and led the passage of roughly $1 billion in relief to assist in recovery efforts following the catastrophic flooding.
Not only did North Carolinians step up to help each other, but President Trump made it a priority to visit some of the worst-hit areas during a busy campaign season. He met with Hurricane Helene victims and local leaders, giving them hope and reassurance that he would not forget about them. Anyone who has worked with President Trump knows that he delivers on his promises, though I admit I was surprised by just how front and center he put Western North Carolina during his inauguration speech, promising a change, culminating with “from this moment on, America’s decline is over.”
When he walked past me after his inspection of the troops, I thanked him for mentioning our region, and that’s when he told me that it was such a significant priority for him that it would be the first official visit of his second term.
I cannot stress enough that this is a major departure from the previous administration’s posture toward our state: it’s a refreshing and much-needed change for my constituents, who have endured so much since the hurricane.
Under President Trump’s leadership, FEMA will finally return to its core mission: helping disaster-stricken Americans rebuild their lives without delay or unnecessary bureaucracy. This administration understands that FEMA’s resources are not limitless and should be directed where they matter most: to the families and communities grappling with the aftermath of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene.
As someone who witnessed the incredible resilience of our people after Helene, I am encouraged by what this visit represents. It is a promise to rebuild not just what was lost but to invest in the strength of our communities, making them more prepared and resilient for the future.
Welcome back to North Carolina, Mr. President.
Rep. Tim Moore represents North Carolina’s 14th District in Congress.
