FEMA has started reoffering jobs to disaster workers it laid off in January, reversing a decision that had drawn criticism from unions and local governments. The move comes as the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, with the first storms expected in June. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the reversal in a court filing Friday, responding to a lawsuit by the American Federation of Government Employees and a coalition of scientific groups. The agency had paused nonrenewals of contracts for COREs—disaster recovery staff—after a severe winter storm hit multiple states in late January.
Karen S. Evans, FEMA's temporary leader, confirmed in a sworn declaration that 159 CORE employees had not had their contracts renewed by late January. The workers, who set up disaster recovery centers and assist survivors after hurricanes, had previously held two- to four-year contracts that were routinely renewed until early 2026. The agency began extending contracts only for 90 days at a time, cutting its workforce by about half. The American Federation of Government Employees argued the cuts were part of a broader plan to reduce FEMA's capacity to respond to disasters.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, alleged the nonrenewals were not a routine personnel adjustment but a strategic move to weaken the agency's ability to handle hurricane season. U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian wrote in the filing that FEMA had initiated contact with term-limited staff to offer new appointments. The CORE workforce, which makes up roughly half of FEMA's total staff, had been a key part of the agency's response to past hurricanes.
The reversal comes as Brevard County and other parts of Florida's Space Coast prepare for the hurricane season. Local officials have expressed concern about the potential impact of reduced disaster response capacity. The agency's temporary leader said the decision to pause nonrenewals was made after the winter storm, but the lawsuit highlighted the risk of leaving communities vulnerable. With the hurricane season starting in June, the timing of the reversal has drawn attention from both supporters and critics of the agency's management changes.