Full Breakdown
FEMA Rehires CORE Staff Ahead of Hurricane Season
5/5/2026, 4:53:01 AM
Rehiring of CORE Staff
In May 2026, FEMA announced rehiring roughly 200 members of its Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery (CORE) team after earlier contract non-renewals. The Trump administration framed the move as a corrective step before the 2026 hurricane season and FIFA World Cup.
Lawsuit and Workforce Context
The reinstatement follows a lawsuit by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and allies, contending the non-renewals were illegally directed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and would have crippled FEMA’s disaster response capacity. DHS had earlier ordered a plan to cut 50 % of the workforce, later paused.
Key Figures
FEMA Director Karen Evans oversaw the reversal; former DHS deputy chief Joseph Guy is slated for deposition. Contractor Kara Voorhies, accused of undue influence, also faces deposition. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin pledged rapid backlog clearance, and former FEMA head Cameron Hamilton is reported as a potential nominee.
Staffing Numbers & Renewal Process
Around 200 CORE staff were let go; FEMA employs about 10,000 CORE members, 4,000 part-time reservists, and 5,000 permanent employees. Contracts expiring Jan. 1–May 31 receive a one-year extension pending performance review; those after June 1 undergo a functional review before eligibility for standard two-to-four-year renewals.
Agency Response
A FEMA spokesperson said the agency is taking targeted steps to stabilize its workforce and strengthen readiness as the 2026 hurricane season and FIFA World Cup approach, emphasizing that new leadership is addressing outstanding personnel actions to ensure a strong, deployable surge force for upcoming national events and disasters.
Opposition Claims
AFGE argues the non-renewals violated federal hiring rules and would have left FEMA unable to meet its mission, citing the abrupt loss of experienced responders. They contend the dismissals were driven by a DHS-mandated workforce reduction rather than operational necessity.
Litigation Gaps
A federal judge ordered Evans to produce a review of her phone and unredacted daily notes; the administration says she is in Idaho, delaying compliance. Depositions of Joseph Guy and Kara Voorhies remain pending, and the effect of the reinstatements on the lawsuit has not yet been determined.
Quotes
- “As we approach the 2026 hurricane season and the FIFA World Cup, FEMA is taking targeted steps to stabilize our workforce and strengthen readiness.” — FEMA spokesperson
- “Under new leadership, FEMA is addressing outstanding personnel actions to ensure workforce stability and a strong, deployable surge force for upcoming national events and potential disasters.” — FEMA spokesperson
Outlook
Cameron Hamilton is reported as a likely nominee to lead FEMA again, suggesting potential leadership continuity. As the 2026 hurricane season approaches, FEMA aims to clear a 16-month disaster-response backlog while the lawsuit proceeds, with further court-ordered disclosures expected.
