The Federal Emergency Management Agency has abruptly paused the ongoing termination of hundreds of disaster response workers as it ramps up preparations for a massive winter storm expected to impact large portions of the United States this weekend.
The move, announced internally Thursday, halts offboarding for employees whose contracts were set to expire in the coming days, allowing them to remain on staff through the storm response and recovery period.
The decision affects roughly 300 disaster workers who were slated to be let go this month after their term-limited positions under the agency’s disaster response programs reached expiration. Sources familiar with the staffing changes said the approaching storm — forecast to deliver snow, sleet, ice and frigid temperatures across much of the central and eastern U.S. — was a key factor in the reversal.
FEMA has also activated its National Response Coordination Center and pre-positioned response teams and supplies, including generators, meals and potable water, in states across the storm’s projected path. More than 200 specialists are being readied to staff call centers, and Urban Search and Rescue teams are on standby as part of broader federal preparations.
The pause comes amid broader federal debate over emergency management staffing and the fluctuating size of FEMA’s workforce, which can vary based on disaster activity, operational needs and funding availability. Homeland Security officials said the agency regularly adjusts staffing levels, though it was unclear how long the current suspension of terminations will remain in effect.
The looming winter storm has prompted multiple state emergency declarations and has officials urging residents to finalize preparations for hazardous travel, widespread cold and potential power disruptions. Weather forecasts indicate that tens of millions of Americans may experience extreme cold and winter precipitation through the weekend and early next week.