The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to fire 1,000 FEMA workers this month — and it could be just the beginning.

A leaked FEMA document shows up to 11,500 jobs are potentially on the chopping block, nearly half the agency’s entire workforce.

These aren’t bureaucratic desk jobs. Many of the workers being let go are part of FEMA’s Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees (CORE) — a flexible, expert team that responds to wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and other emergencies across the country. In the wake of disasters, they’re often the first people on the ground helping families apply for aid, rebuild homes, and recover their lives.

FEMA’s ability to help our communities after disaster strikes depends on these workers — and firing them now puts all of us at risk.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says she wants to shift more disaster responsibility to states, but state governments can’t handle climate disasters alone. The federal government must remain ready to respond — especially as weather disasters grow more frequent and severe.

This is not about politics. It’s about readiness. The 2025 hurricane season may have been quiet, but recovery from past disasters like Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires is still ongoing. If we cut FEMA staff now, we may not realize the damage until it’s too late.

We call on Secretary Noem, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and congressional leaders to immediately halt these mass firings and ensure FEMA is staffed to respond to future disasters.

If reforms are needed, they should be done through transparent, bipartisan review — not sudden job cuts that jeopardize national preparedness.

You don’t cut firefighters in fire season. And you don’t gut FEMA when the next crisis could be just around the corner.

Sign this petition to demand: Don’t fire FEMA workers — we need them before the next disaster.