Trump administration halts FEMA deployment of aid workers during DHS shutdown
The Trump management ordered FEMA to halt the deployment of aid workers during the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown that began after Congress failed to agree on funding. The suspension, effective February 18, 2026, halts FEMA’s disaster-response deployments as DHS travel for non-essential purposes is restricted, though the agency says its mission remains to help people before, during, and after disasters. Reuters notes the pause could hinder ongoing and planned recovery efforts, as FEMA personnel had been preparing for deployments in response to multiple disasters across the country, including winter-storm damage and Oklahoma wildfires; 17 disaster declarations had been issued in 2026 so far. A FEMA spokesperson said the pause is necessary to comply with federal law and does not affect deployments already in place, with travel related to active disasters continuing where applicable. The shutdown also affects othre DHS agencies, such as the Coast Guard, the secret Service, and the TSA, perhaps slowing disaster response and other DHS operations.
Trump administration halts FEMA deployment of aid workers during DHS shutdown
The Trump administration has ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to halt the deployment of aid workers during the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA, which is part of DHS, is the federal agency that sends personnel to assist those affected by natural disasters nationwide. Its self-described mission is “helping people before, during, and after disasters.”
The suspension went into effect on Feb. 18, Reuters reported.
“DHS has issued a stop-travel order for all DHS funded travel, effecting 2/18/26, for the duration of the lapse in appropriation. Currently this DOES include disaster travel,” read an email from Kurt Weirich, a chief of staff at FEMA.
The suspension of FEMA workers could limit recovery efforts for natural disasters in the U.S. In 2026, there are currently 17 known disaster declarations across the country, most of which followed the winter storms that hit the country in January. The most recent disaster declarations are from the Oklahoma wildfires from earlier this week. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) declared a state of emergency in Oklahoma on Tuesday because of the fires.
The partial government shutdown began on Saturday, after Congress was unable to reach a funding agreement for the federal agency primarily related to Democrats’ objections over illegal immigration enforcement efforts implemented by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is also part of DHS. Other federal agencies affected by the partial shutdown due to being part of DHS are the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and the Transportation Security Administration.
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The decision to suspend deployments came as FEMA responders were preparing for future disaster recovery efforts, including cleaning up the recent sewage spill in the Potomac River. Additionally, Reuters reported that 300 FEMA personnel were preparing for deployment before being told to “stand down.”
Regarding the suspension of FEMA disaster response deployments, a FEMA spokesperson said that it was “not a choice but are necessary to comply with federal law,” according to CNN. The spokesperson also said that any disaster response efforts currently in place, would not be affected by the shutdown deployment suspension.
“FEMA travel related to active disasters is not canceled,” the spokesperson told CNN.
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