BY MIRABEL ODETA
President Donald Trump’s administration has directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to suspend the deployment of hundreds of disaster response personnel across the United States as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) undergoes a partial shutdown, according to internal communications reviewed by media outlets.
FEMA, which operates under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security, was instructed to halt travel funded by DHS for the duration of the funding lapse. The shutdown began Saturday after congressional negotiations between Republicans and Democrats over immigration enforcement reforms collapsed without a deal.
An internal email from Kurt Weirich, FEMA’s chief of staff, informed employees that DHS had issued a stop-travel order effective February 18, 2026. The directive applies to all DHS-funded travel and explicitly includes disaster-related travel. As a result, more than 300 FEMA disaster responders who had been preparing for upcoming assignments were told to stand down. Some of those affected were already at a FEMA training facility awaiting deployment.
While DHS has technically entered a partial shutdown, most of its core operations continue because they are categorized as essential government functions. However, the suspension of travel has raised concerns about FEMA’s ability to respond swiftly to emergencies at a time when communities across the country remain vulnerable to natural and environmental disasters.
The travel freeze comes shortly after President Trump announced that the federal government would step in to help protect the Potomac River following a major environmental incident in the Washington metropolitan region. On January 19, a large sewer pipe collapsed in Montgomery County, Maryland, releasing more than 240 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the river. The spill raised significant environmental and public health concerns in Maryland and Washington, D.C., as the Potomac serves as a key water source for the region.
Trump stated earlier this week that Federal Emergency Management Agency would coordinate the federal response to the sewage spill. However, according to reports citing agency officials, FEMA has so far deployed few, if any, personnel or resources directly tied to the cleanup effort. The apparent gap between the president’s announcement and FEMA’s visible response has drawn scrutiny, especially in light of reported staffing reductions at the agency since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
A FEMA spokesperson said the travel restrictions were not optional but required to comply with federal law during a lapse in appropriations. The spokesperson also emphasized that FEMA travel connected to active disasters has not been canceled, suggesting that certain emergency operations may still proceed under exceptions allowed for essential services.
FEMA’s core mission is to assist Americans before, during, and after disasters. The agency coordinates federal disaster response efforts, provides financial assistance to affected individuals and communities, and deploys emergency personnel, supplies, and equipment to areas impacted by hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, and other crises. Any interruption in staffing or travel logistics can complicate the agency’s ability to mobilize quickly when new emergencies arise.
The current situation highlights the broader impact of political stalemates in Washington, particularly when funding disputes intersect with agencies responsible for public safety and disaster response. As lawmakers continue negotiations over immigration policy and federal spending, the pause in FEMA deployments underscores how administrative gridlock can ripple outward, affecting disaster preparedness and environmental response efforts nationwide.
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