FEMA Reform white paper sets out IAFC recommendations for US response system

IAFC sets out FEMA Reform priorities

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has released a white paper on FEMA Reform setting out recommendations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council in the US.

The report was issued on Friday 31 October 2025 and focuses on how FEMA should organise its work to support local fire and emergency medical services (EMS) departments.

According to IAFC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council was created by President Trump through Executive Order 14180, Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

IAFC stated that Chief Josh Waldo, IAFC President for 2024–2025, established a dedicated task force to provide recommendations to the federal FEMA Review Council.

The organisation explained that this work comes as the Trump Administration develops proposals to change FEMA and the wider homeland security framework.

IAFC reported that the task force’s purpose is to shape reforms so that FEMA’s operations meet the needs of local fire departments.

The report stresses that local fire and EMS departments are first on scene at incidents and last to leave.

It adds that FEMA’s role is to assist these local responders by supplying resources that support an effective all-hazards response.

Task force draws on IAFC committees

IAFC said Fire Chief Jim Schwartz chaired the DHS/FEMA Reform Task Force formed to develop the white paper.

The task force brought together representatives from IAFC components including the EMS Section, Metro Chiefs and Volunteer and Combination Officers Section.

IAFC added that terrorism and security issues were represented through the Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee and Emergency Management Committee.

Urban operations were covered by the Urban Search and Rescue Committee and Communications Committee.

Wildland and hazardous materials risks were represented through the Wildland Fire Policy Committee and Hazardous Materials Committee.

The report underlines the importance of the US Fire Administration (USFA) in collecting and processing national data through systems such as the new National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS).

It also points to USFA’s role in preparing senior leaders through the National Fire Academy.

The task force recommends consolidating federal EMS programmes, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, within USFA.

The report further calls for the position of US Fire Administrator to be elevated to Deputy FEMA Administrator.

Data, leadership and EMS consolidation

IAFC’s paper states that FEMA must remain focused on helping local fire and EMS departments prepare for all hazards, rather than limiting attention to specific incident types.

The report notes that systems such as NERIS enable national-level data collection and analysis to underpin decision-making and leadership development.

According to IAFC, moving federal EMS programmes into USFA would align data, training and operational support for EMS with fire service structures.

The task force argues that this approach would reflect the central role EMS plays in many fire departments’ missions.

The white paper also links leadership development at the National Fire Academy to future decision-making capacity within FEMA and USFA.

IAFC sets out these structural proposals as part of its broader FEMA Reform recommendations for the Review Council.

Grants and mutual aid in focus

IAFC’s report examines FEMA’s role in response as well as preparedness.

The paper highlights the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) System as a core FEMA responsibility during disasters and national emergencies.

It stresses the importance of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in providing a standard framework and shared terminology for multi-agency operations.

The report states that improving the national mutual aid system is necessary to coordinate and deploy the closest available resources to escalating disasters.

It notes that better reimbursement of local agencies is needed when they provide staffing and equipment to incidents outside their home state or jurisdiction.

The task force emphasises the value of FEMA-administered grants such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) programme, including Fire Prevention and Safety grants, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programme.

According to IAFC, these grants build local fire department capabilities that are deployed to all hazards.

The report adds that the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) support investments in training, equipment, intelligence and specialist responses for terrorism risks.

IAFC states that as the Trump Administration places more responsibility on state and local governments for disaster response, it must maintain funding for these grant programmes so local fire and EMS departments can meet that challenge.

Next steps for federal review council

IAFC said Chief Schwartz previewed the report at a FEMA Reform Council listening session in Asheville, North Carolina, on 22 September.

The paper was approved by the IAFC Board of Directors and sent to the FEMA Review Council’s staff on 24 October.

IAFC confirmed that it will continue to advocate for local fire and EMS needs as the FEMA reform process progresses at federal level.

Fire Chief Jim Schwartz, Chair of the IAFC DHS/FEMA Reform Task Force, said: “FEMA is an essential partner with fire and EMS agencies across the country before, during, and after a disaster.

“While much of the current discussion has been on disaster aid, we cannot ignore the crucial investment in preparedness as a major contributor to our effectiveness.”

Fire Chief Josh Waldo, IAFC President (2024–2025), said: “Fire and EMS departments are the backbone of the nation’s emergency response system.

“I created the IAFC DHS/FEMA Reform Task Force to make sure that local fire and EMS chiefs have a voice in the Trump Administration’s efforts to reform FEMA.

“I thank Chief Schwartz and the members of the task force for developing recommendations that we can take to our elected leaders in Washington,”

Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford, IAFC President and Board Chair, said: “As the Trump Administration considers FEMA reform, it is important that any changes they propose meet the needs of the nation’s fire and EMS departments.

“FEMA provides essential training and funding to local fire departments and provides NIMS as a framework for the response to national emergencies.

“Resources like the National US&R System and the U.S. Fire Administration must be preserved.

“I look forward to taking the FEMA Reform task force’s message to the Trump Administration and Congress to make sure that local fire and EMS departments voices are heard in this national dialogue.”

Implications for US fire and EMS leadership

The IAFC report on FEMA Reform focuses directly on how federal structures, programmes and grants shape the daily work of US local fire and EMS departments.

Fire chiefs and senior officers are central to this discussion, as the task force’s recommendations address FEMA’s support role, leadership development at the National Fire Academy and the proposed elevation of the US Fire Administrator.

Emergency and disaster response managers are affected through the report’s treatment of the National Urban Search and Rescue System, NIMS and mutual aid arrangements for deploying the nearest available resources.

Government departments working on homeland security and emergency management will need to consider IAFC’s call for consistent funding across AFG, SAFER, SHSGP and UASI to sustain training, equipment and specialist capabilities.

Training officers and instructors are directly linked to the report’s emphasis on USFA and the National Fire Academy as platforms for data-driven leadership and EMS integration.

Procurement officers and grant managers in fire and EMS departments may need to align local investment plans with any future federal decisions informed by the IAFC task force’s recommendations.