Richmond Councilmembers and Advocates Call on Governor Youngkin to Protect FEMA, Protect Virginia

Advocates urge strengthening, not eroding, FEMA disaster relief programs as climate disasters escalate and federal aid hangs in the balance.

RICHMOND, VA –  Richmond city councilmembers and climate organizations held a press conference today to urge Governor Glenn Youngkin to use his seat on the FEMA Review Council to strengthen the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), not dismantle it. This effort comes amid alarming signs that FEMA is losing key staff, combined with significant disaster funding cuts, which are severely weakening the agency’s capacity to respond to disasters. The Trump Administration’s plan to shift disaster relief costs to states risks imposing significant financial burdens on Virginia residents and taxpayers.

“Our communities depend on FEMA to be a reliable partner when disaster strikes,” said Richmond City Councilmember Stephanie Lynch. “Strengthening FEMA isn’t about politics — it’s about making sure every Virginian has the support they need to recover, rebuild, and become more resilient in the face of a changing climate.”

“Americans must be able to count on their federal government for aid in times of crisis, and to be partners in preventing their severity,” said Richmond City Councilmember Katherine Jordan. “Emergency management and prevention are bedrock responsibilities of government. I join Virginians from across the Commonwealth asking our Governor to ensure we have the strongest FEMA possible – both in ability to respond to disasters – and through equipping communities with critical dollars to prevent or mitigate events before they happen.”

“When federal support is ripped away, local governments are left holding the bag, and the overwhelming burden almost always falls on the people who can least afford it. But, Governor Younkin can change that,” said Kim Sudderth, Hampton Roads Environmental Justice Advocate. 

Speakers highlighted the growing risks that extreme weather disasters pose to Virginia and how dismantling FEMA would jeopardize critical disaster relief as climate disasters grow in frequency and severity. Following the press conference, advocates delivered a petition signed by hundreds of Virginians demanding action to protect federal disaster programs. 

“The climate crisis isn’t a far-off, distant future; it is our new reality that Virginians are experiencing through unprecedented extreme weather that overwhelms our critical infrastructure,” said Gabby Walton, Federal Campaigns Associate for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Our local disaster response depends on FEMA’s support, and the federal government’s moves to suspend critical FEMA staff and funding is unacceptable. As the FEMA Review Council considers overhauling and possibly dismantling FEMA altogether this hurricane season, I urge Governor Youngkin to use his influence to improve the agency, not dissolve it.” 

“Our elected leaders should not be playing politics when it comes to disaster recovery; they shouldn’t pick winners or losers after a devastating flood, hurricane, wildfire, or other natural disaster,” said Catherine Setaro, Hampton Roads Field Manager at Virginia League of Conservation Voters. “Governor Youngkin needs to use his official capacity on FEMA’s Review Council to strengthen this agency while he has the chance.”

Recent proposals from the Trump administration and members of the FEMA Review Council risk dismantling FEMA and cutting disaster relief funding. Since January, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and 20 supporting Virginia-based organizations have highlighted the life-saving importance of federal disaster aid by submitting an organizational letter to Governor Youngkin. Virginia’s reliance on FEMA for recovery in major storms highlights the potential dangers if federal support is eliminated.

Watch the live stream recording on our Instagram account HERE.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and beyond.

Twenty Influential Virginia Groups Warn of Disaster If FEMA Is Dissolved in Letter Delivered to Governor Youngkin

Why We Can’t Afford to Lose FEMA: Lessons from Hurricane Helene and Beyond

Groups Highlight Risks to Virginia and Urge Youngkin to Use His Seat on FEMA Review Council to Defend Federal Disaster Aid

RICHMOND, VA— In a unified call to action, 20 Virginia advocacy organizations, including the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, delivered a letter today urging Governor Glenn Youngkin to defend and strengthen the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the Trump Administration considers dismantling it. The coalition, representing housing, climate, conservation, and mutual aid groups, pressed Youngkin to use his influential seat on the FEMA Review Council to oppose any efforts to dissolve the agency amid escalating climate disasters. 

READ THE LETTER IN FULL HERE

The letter reminds Governor Youngkin that the scale and intensity of climate disasters are increasing, with skyrocketing costs accompanying the urgency for resilient systems and infrastructure. Additionally, it reminds him that Virginia has depended on FEMA for support during his term as governor. While Governor Youngkin suggested that Virginia could handle the costs of any extreme disaster without federal support, Virginia’s US Senator Mark Warner has expressed deep concerns that a major disaster matching the scale of 2024’s devastating Hurricane Helene could bankrupt the state if federal support is not available. 

The Trump Administration’s proposal to scrap FEMA, including the recent cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure Community program, has sparked alarm among state and local leaders. That program alone brought millions of dollars in investments to Virginia cities that would have directly benefited communities and their property. 

The FEMA Review Council is set to release a report of its recommended changes to FEMA this fall, including the possibility of dissolving FEMA entirely. This moment marks a crucial opportunity for Virginians to advocate for guaranteed federal disaster relief in the age of climate change-fueled record-breaking weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 2023 saw an unprecedented total of 2028 multi-billion-dollar disasters. NOAA’s Chief Scientist at the time remarked that 2023 was likely “the warmest year on record for the planet” and that the high marked the latest in weather extremes that will persist as climate change accelerates. 

“Governor Youngkin, now is the time to lead,” said Gabby Walton, Federal Campaigns Associate for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Stand up for every Virginian and publicly commit to strengthening FEMA and federal disaster relief. With Virginians facing record-breaking disasters due to climate change and the real threat of losing vital federal support, we cannot afford political gamesmanship with our safety and future. We urge you to use your seat on the FEMA Review Council to reject any plan to dismantle FEMA and to fight for the resources our communities need to survive and recover.”

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.