Many Americans assume FEMA is only focused on helping respond to disasters, but a closer look at FEMA’s recent internal documents, spending, and public actions shows that FEMA has broadened its focus to handling the flow of migrants into the U.S. and attempting to double down on DEI initiatives on gender, sexuality and race.
(The Center Square) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is taking fire for its increased focus on migrants, and diversity, equity and inclusion policies while its response to recent hurricanes is under scrutiny.
In another example of FEMA’s broader focus, The New York Post reported that a video call roundtable from last year included FEMA DEI leaders backing an array of DEI efforts.
During the event, which was called “Helping LGBTQIA+ Survivors Before Disasters,” one federal employee discussed shifting FEMA’s mission from serving the “greatest good for the greatest amount of people” to focusing more on “disaster equity.” A 36-page FEMA DEI guide for employees published in May 2023 says that FEMA employees should “have conversations about differences in race, religion, age, disability, gender, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.” "The more diverse leadership, teams and collaborations are, the stronger, more equitable and inclusive a program becomes," the report continued.
FEMA’s 2022-2026 strategic plan, an overarching document created by agencies to lay out their priorities, named its first goal not as disaster relief, but instead diversity, equity and inclusion.
Defenders of FEMA point out that money for migrants and disaster relief are funded differently and don’t necessarily take away from one another.
In its first goal, the plan promised to “Instill equity as a foundation of emergency management.” It’s second named priority is to “lead whole of Community in climate resilience.” FEMA’s “readiness” comes in as the third goal in the plan.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_93dd9c00-8daa-11ef-b88b-f36db7bf8daf.html
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