A federal watchdog report warns that FEMA has lost 17% of its workforce and may not have enough qualified staff to handle a major hurricane hitting the Houston area this season.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office report, dated Aug. 4, found that more than 4,300 employees left FEMA during fiscal year 2025, a 55% jump in departures compared to the prior year. The agency averaged about 25,134 employees that year. GAO concluded FEMA made those cuts without first analyzing whether it retained enough people with the right skills to carry out its mission.

The findings drew national attention Thursday, Aug. 13, as the Gulf Coast enters peak hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.

Chris Currie, the GAO director who oversaw the review, told KHOU that residents should be "very concerned" and warned they will see less qualified responders because the agency cut some of its most critical workforce segments.

July 2025 Texas floods as a warning

GAO pointed to the deadly July 2025 Texas Hill Country floods as a case study. When flooding began July 4, 2025, only 15% of FEMA's incident management workforce was available to deploy. The agency had also cut its surge call-center resources by roughly 50%, and some flood survivors faced long waits or unanswered calls while seeking help. More than 130 people died in that disaster, according to the GAO report.

The outlook is worse for 2026. FEMA expects about 240 employees available through the DHS Surge Capacity Force this season, down from roughly 600 last year, a reduction of about 60%.

Houston lawmaker calls report 'exceedingly alarming'

Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, called the report "exceedingly alarming."

"I'm hopeful they will," Green said when asked whether FEMA could handle a major hurricane hitting Houston. "But hope is not the best plan. I'm not sure FEMA will be ready to do what needs to be done."

GAO also found FEMA rescinded its strategic plan in 2025, leaving the agency without a guiding document for workforce planning. The watchdog added FEMA's disaster workforce to its High Risk List in February 2025. FEMA officials told GAO they have been operating in uncertainty and confusion while still trying to meet the mission with the staff they have.

FEMA says it's ready

In a statement, FEMA said it is ready for the 2026 hurricane season and described efforts to ensure workforce stability and a strong deployable force. The agency said it is leaner, faster and focused on supporting local partners before, during and after disasters.

Cameron Hamilton was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as FEMA administrator on Monday, Aug. 10, ending the longest gap without a Senate-confirmed leader in at least 15 years.

GAO recommended Congress require FEMA to report its workforce readiness before each hurricane season. The Department of Homeland Security agreed with the recommendations.

Harris County's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management has not publicly commented on the GAO findings. Residents can sign up for local emergency alerts at readyharris.org or text GULF2026 to 888777 for hurricane season updates.