Unions, nonprofits challenge FEMA staffing cuts in court

Source: Federal News Network

January 28, 2026 4:51 pm

A coalition of unions and nonprofits is challenging cuts to staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, alleging they violate laws that restrict the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to make sweeping changes at FEMA. Their court challenge filed Tuesday evening alleges DHS and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are breaking the law by directing the termination of hundreds of FEMA employees.

The complaint alleges those actions violate the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, which gave FEMA more autonomy and restricts the DHS secretary’s ability to make sweeping overhauls and staff reductions at the emergency management agency.

FEMA earlier this month began shedding staff by not renewing the contracts of hundreds of Cadre of On-Call Emergency Response, Recovery Employees (CORE). Multiple sources have indicated that DHS headquarters and Noem herself are now in charge of approving CORE renewals. FEMA reportedly paused those non-renewals temporarily last week in response to Winter Storm Fern.

A draft workforce planning exercise issued by FEMA headquarters to supervisors in December included “target” reductions for fiscal 2026 that would cut up to 50% of the agency’s 23,000 employees, including 40% of the CORE workforce. The plaintiffs in the court challenge include the American Federation of Government Employees and other unions. They are being represented by multiple law firms and advocacy organizations, including Democracy Forward.

Read more: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/litigation/2026/01/unions-nonprofits-challenge-fema-staffing-cuts-in-court/

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Unions, nonprofits challenge FEMA staffing cuts in court