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Original Date Announced
August 5, 2025The Washington Post reports that DHS has reassigned dozens of FEMA staffers to ICE for a temporary 90-day period to work on hiring and vetting new ICE personnel. Current and former government officials stated that DHS has transferred more than 100 FEMA employees to ICE within the last week, including half of FEMA’s HR department and about 50 employees from the security team. The Washington Post reports that the reassignments "may be a stretch legally" because of restrictions tied to the federal Disaster Relief Fund, which funds some affected employees' positions.
FEMA employees have worked with DHS on immigration initiatives, including the Shelter and Services Program, during the Biden administration, though those reassignments were voluntary.
A screenshot of an email from FEMA's Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer notifying employees of the reassignment and stating that employees who decline the reassignment may be "subject to removal from Federal service" was posted on X by David Dayen, Executive Editor of The American Prospect.
Trump 2.0 [ID #1912]
2025.08.05 Dozens of FEMA staffers involuntarily reassigned to support deportations - Washington Post 2025.08.06 David Dayen - X post of DHS email reassigning FEMA employeesEffective Date
August 5, 2025Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: EnforcementAssociated or Derivative Policies
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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Commentary
2026.07.10 House of Representatives - Stretched Thin: The Erosion of FEMA’s Core Mission Under DHS
An investigative report commissioned by House Democrats found that DHS misused FEMA resources. The report says that when DHS diverted dozens of staff to help with immigration enforcement, it hindered FEMA’s disaster response. The report further states that the actions violated federal law, which expressly prohibits the diversion of FEMA’s assets to the “principal and continuing use” of any other DHS component in ways that reduce the agency’s capability to perform its missions.
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