What is Being Cut?

USAID

Of its 10,000+ employees, only about 294 remain—roughly a 97% reduction in personnel. Resulting in projected deaths of between 40,000 and 600,000 people over the next four years worldwide.

HUD

About 86% of its staff have been laid off or placed on administrative leave. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for national housing policies and programs. Its primary mission is to ensure access to affordable housing and enforce fair housing laws. Here are some key functions of HUD:

1. Homeownership Assistance – Provides programs like FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans, which offer mortgage insurance to help people buy homes with lower down payments and better interest rates.

2. Community Development – Funds grants like the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program support local infrastructure, housing, and economic development projects.

3. Homelessness Prevention – Works with programs like Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness find shelter and housing.

4. Disaster Recovery—HUD's Disaster Recovery Program provides funding for rebuilding homes and communities affected by natural disasters.

5. Sustainable and Inclusive Housing Initiatives—Promotes energy-efficient and accessible housing and economic opportunities for underserved communities.

6. Affordable Housing Programs – Oversees public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and other rental assistance programs to help low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

7. Fair Housing Enforcement—Enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.

Department of Education

Reports indicate nearly a 50% reduction in the workforce through layoffs and administrative leaves, and more expected.

A. Funding and Grants

1. Distributes federal education funding to states and schools, particularly for disadvantaged students.

2. Manages programs like Title I (for low-income schools) and Pell Grants (for college students with financial need).

3. Provides special education (IDEA) and career and technical education (CTE) grants.

B. Student Loans and Financial Aid

1. Oversees federal student aid programs, including:

2. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

3. Direct Loans (Subsidized & Unsubsidized)

4. Parent PLUS Loans

5. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

6. Works on student loan forgiveness and repayment programs.

C. Educational Standards and Policy Development

1. Develops policies to improve K-12 and higher education.

2. Supports STEM education, early childhood programs, and literacy initiatives.

3. Encourages states to adopt high academic standards.

D. Research and Data Collection

1. Conducts studies on education trends through the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

2. Uses data to shape future education policies and reforms.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Approximately 880 probationary employees—about 5% of the agency’s workforce—have been let go, and many more potential cuts are pending.

NOAA is a U.S. government agency that focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere. It operates under the Department of Commerce and plays a key role in environmental monitoring, weather forecasting, and marine conservation. Here’s what NOAA does:

A. Weather and Climate Monitoring

1. Runs the National Weather Service (NWS), which provides daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate data.

2. Tracks hurricanes, tornadoes, and other extreme weather events.

3. Conducts climate research to study long-term changes and global warming.

B. Ocean and Coastal Research

1. Monitors ocean temperatures, tides, and currents.

2. Conducts deep-sea exploration through programs like NOAA Ocean Exploration.

3. Studies marine ecosystems, coral reefs, and coastal habitats.

C. Fisheries Management

1. Oversees sustainable fishing practices to prevent overfishing.

2. Works with local and international organizations to protect endangered marine species.

3. Supports the seafood industry by maintaining fish populations.

D. Environmental Protection and Conservation

1. Enforces laws like the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act for marine life.

2. Manages National Marine Sanctuaries, which protect important ocean and coastal areas.

3. Helps restore ecosystems affected by oil spills and pollution.

E. Satellite Operations and Data Collection

1. Operates weather and environmental satellites like GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites) and JPSS (Joint Polar Satellite System).

2. Provides critical data for weather forecasting, disaster response, and climate research.

F. Disaster Response and Preparedness

1. Works with FEMA and other agencies to provide early warnings for hurricanes, tsunamis, and floods.

2. Conducts research to improve prediction models for natural disasters.

3. Helps coastal communities prepare for rising sea levels and storm surges.

FEMA

With over 200 employees fired out of roughly 20,000 staff members, the reduction is around 1%, although even these cuts raise concerns given FEMA’s critical role.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Here’s what FEMA does:

A. Disaster Response & Relief

1. Provides immediate aid (food, water, shelter) after hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters.

2. Deploys emergency response teams, medical personnel, and rescue workers.

3. Works with local and state governments to ensure a quick response to crises.

B. Disaster Recovery Assistance

1. Offers financial assistance to individuals, businesses, and communities to rebuild homes and infrastructure.

2. Provides low-interest disaster loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA).

3. Supports rebuilding efforts through grants and insurance programs.

C. Preparedness & Mitigation Programs

1. Funds projects to strengthen infrastructure against future disasters (e.g., flood barriers, earthquake-resistant buildings).

2. Runs public education campaigns on emergency preparedness (e.g., Ready.gov).

3. Offers grants to state and local governments to improve disaster response systems.

D. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

1. Provides flood insurance to homeowners and businesses in flood-prone areas.

2. Helps communities adopt better floodplain management practices.

3. Reduces the financial impact of floods through risk assessments and mapping.

E. Coordination with Other Agencies

1. Works with organizations like the Red Cross, National Guard, and local emergency agencies.

2. Partners with state and local governments to provide disaster relief funding.

3. Deploys the Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) for large-scale disasters.

F. Emergency Communication & Alerts

1. Manages the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), which sends emergency alerts to phones, TVs, and radios.

2. Supports emergency responders with logistics, communications, and coordination centers.

FEMA will need more funding

The likelihood that FEMA will need more funding over the next four years is very high, and here’s why:

A. Current Funding Shortfalls

1. In recent years, FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) has faced funding gap

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   s, requiring emergency appropriations from Congress.

2. In 2023, FEMA had to pause or delay some payments due to funding constraints, signaling that current budget levels are inadequate.

3. As disasters grow costlier, FEMA may run out of funds faster each year.

B. Inflation and Rising Recovery Costs

1. Construction and rebuilding costs have surged due to inflation and supply chain issues.

2. Labor shortages in emergency response and recovery efforts make operations more expensive.

3. The cost of disaster insurance and risk mitigation programs continues to increase.

C. Potential for Unforeseen Crises

1. Cybersecurity threats, infrastructure failures, and pandemics may require FEMA to allocate resources beyond natural disasters.

2. Geopolitical tensions could lead to emergency responses related to terrorism, mass displacement, or supply chain disruptions.

D. Increasing Frequency and Severity of Disasters

1. Record Disaster Costs: Multiple billion-dollar disasters occurred in 2023, and trends indicate that costs will continue rising.

2. Urban Expansion: More people live in disaster-prone areas (e.g., coastal cities, wildfire zones), increasing FEMA’s financial burden.

FEMA long-term prognosis:

Due to increasing disaster costs, inflation, potential new threats, and climate change, the probability that FEMA will require more funding (not less) is extremely high. Unless Congress proactively increases FEMA’s budget, emergency funding requests will likely become more frequent and urgent over the next four years.