{"id":55708,"date":"2025-11-19T05:07:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T05:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/55708\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T05:07:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T05:07:12","slug":"trump-admin-considers-moving-fema-to-texas-and-tapping-states-top-emergency-official-report-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/55708\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump admin considers moving FEMA to Texas and tapping state\u2019s top emergency official, report says"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NimNim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, takes notes during a press conference at Hill Country Youth Event Center on July 5, 2025 in Kerrville. Credit: Texas Tribune \/ Ronaldo Bola\u00f1os<\/p>\n

The Trump administration is weighing whether to relocate the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas and tap the state\u2019s top emergency official to lead it, Politico<\/a> reported Monday, citing two former senior FEMA officials.<\/p>\n

In February, Trump interviewed Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, to run FEMA. Kidd later acknowledged the interview but declined the position, writing on LinkedIn<\/a> that he is \u201ccommitted to serving Texas first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kidd sits on a 13-member FEMA review council that Trump appointed. Politico reported that the panel is expected to recommend FEMA\u2019s move to Texas. The outlet said that would accommodate Kidd\u2019s wish to remain in Texas<\/p>\n

Kidd could not be immediately reached for comment Monday. Gov. Greg Abbott<\/a> also sits on the review council and could not be immediately reached. The Politico report did not say what city could be under consideration for a potential FEMA relocation.<\/p>\n

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn<\/a> of Texas called Kidd \u201cthe GOAT,\u201d Monday on X<\/a>, an acronym for \u201cgreatest of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kidd began his career 33 years ago as a volunteer firefighter in La Vernia before serving with the San Antonio Fire Department, where he was promoted to positions including district fire chief. From 2004 to 2010, he served as city emergency manager for the City of San Antonio.<\/p>\n

As TDEM chief, Kidd has overseen the state\u2019s response to several large and deadly disasters, including this year\u2019s Hill Country floods and last year\u2019s Panhandle wildfires.<\/p>\n

Politico\u2019s report came hours after acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson resigned Monday to return to the private sector. FEMA chief of staff Karen Evans will fill the acting administrator role stating Dec. 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe FEMA review council continues its work and will make recommendations in their final report,\u201d said the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, in a statement to The Texas Tribune.<\/p>\n

FEMA coordinates federal responses to disasters and emergencies, including by providing financial and other support to victims, administering programs like the National Flood Insurance Program and preparing professionals to address threats.<\/p>\n

Republicans in 2024 accused agency officials of withholding aid from houses that outwardly supported Trump. A report later debunked this claim as a one-off incident, then this year, Trump\u2019s DHS published a new report raising the same claims of politically biased aid distribution.<\/p>\n

Moving the agency about 1,500 miles from Washington to Texas could create \u201chuge challenges\u201d by separating the headquarters from its overseeing agency, one former FEMA official told Politico.<\/p>\n

Both Texas Tribune staffer Alex Nguyen and Current Editor-in-Chief Sanford Nowlin contributed to this story.<\/p>\n

Disclosure: Politico has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune\u2019s journalism. Find a complete\u00a0list of them here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

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