News

In response to a question during the House Homeland Security Committee’s hearing on the FY 2010 budget on May 13, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano expressed for the first time the administration’s support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to remain a component of DHS.

 

According to CQ Homeland Security, Napolitano said: “It is my position, it is the position of the administration, that FEMA should remain in the Department of Homeland Security.”

 

Craig Fugate, who was sworn in as the next administrator of FEMA on May 19, had stated at his confirmation hearing last month that he personally felt that the debate about FEMA’s location was over, meaning that it would remain within DHS. The National Volunteer Fire Council sent a letter to President Obama in January urging him to retain FEMA as a component of DHS.