FEMA workers and disaster survivors open up about Donald Trump's call for “fundamentally reforming or overhauling FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA”

Some Republican lawmakers are defending the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as President Donald Trump's administration moves to fire hundreds of the agency's employees. Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Friday.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has been a fierce defender of the beleaguered agency that the president wants to eliminate.

A developing Trump administration plan for deep staff cuts and drastic changes at the Federal Emergency Management Agency is raising alarm among some state officials and even Republican lawmakers, who worry that it will weaken responses to future disasters.

The Trump Administration has fired several hundred employees at FEMA. When it comes to helping disaster victims on the ground, the agency was already hundreds of people short.

According to Fox News, DHS fired four FEMA employees, including the agency's chief financial officer, two program analysts, and a grant specialist, for approving the payment without clearance from leadership.

Kentucky lawmakers say it's too early to consider a special session for flood relief. In the meantime, they're keeping an eye on FEMA's response.

After flooding swept up parts of southern West Virginia, the people who live there are still figuring out what their next moves are. Rebecca Hager, who lives in