FEMA administrator Cameron Hamilton has issued a memorandum redefining "emergency management" as "the strategic coordination of emergency services to protect life, property, and continuity of operations." The previous definition described it as a managerial function for reducing vulnerability to hazards and coping with them. The new wording, Hamilton said, is part of a "return to basics" that clarifies the agency's mission.
Samantha Montano, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, told Eos that the change is deeply concerning. She noted that "emergency services" refers specifically to first responders like fire, police, and EMS, leaving out coordination with other government agencies, nonprofits such as the Red Cross, and private entities like utility companies. The definition also appears to exclude mitigation and recovery from FEMA's role.
Montano agreed that clarifying terms in the field has value, but she called the redefinition "bizarre" and said it does not engage with decades of expert work. She also pointed out that the memo aligns with proposals from Project 2025 and the FEMA Review Council report, which would shift many responsibilities to states and localities. The memo lists 12 core focus areas, some of which seem to contradict the new definition, leaving uncertainty about how FEMA will operate in practice.