Steps toward dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have come amid heavy floods and before the hurricane season. The ability to respond with federal disaster relief could soon no longer be an option.

Walking alongside communities in times of disaster requires compassion, coordination and strong infrastructure, as the experience of those of us active in Lutheran Disaster Response ministry and congregational disaster response can attest. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not a perfect system, it is a vital and necessary part of our nation’s disaster response and recovery efforts. 

LDR experience has noted the difference FEMA support makes when paired with the local presence and long-term care that ministries like Lutheran Disaster Response provide. FEMA provides critical support for emergency monitoring, disaster relief and long-term recovery, especially for low-income communities and those hit hardest by catastrophic weather events. These programs are essential for helping communities prepare for disasters and rebuild in their aftermath.  

Although improvements are needed, dismantling FEMA is not reform—it’s abandonment. Proposals to eliminate FEMA or drastically reduce its role would leave communities without the funding, staffing and structure needed to respond effectively to disasters. Without this foundational support, local and state emergency services would face devastating cuts, leaving many communities—especially the most vulnerable—without the resources to respond or recover. 

On July 4, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law—a massive budget reconciliation bill that makes substantive changes to U.S. policy. The bill is, without a doubt, unprecedented in the harm it will cause refugee and other immigrant communities.

And yet, the work of welcome continues.

As the law is enacted, Global Refuge will continue our advocacy to educate communities and members of Congress about the impact of these provisions and to work for change that restores and maintains access to basic assistance for refugees and other immigrants.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/44aM3GV

In this time of hateful rhetoric and harmful policies, show that your congregation (still) welcomes refugees and other immigrants. All proceeds from the Welcome Shop benefit Global Refuge programs.

globalrefuge.org/shop