After a disastrous tenure as North Carolina’s “recovery czar” in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Michael Whatley is now calling for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be abolished altogether. According to recent reporting from Cardinal & Pine, Whatley was caught on tape saying he’s suggested that the president abolish FEMA.
“Michael Whatley’s comments on FEMA are just the latest example of how wrong he is for North Carolina,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Gus Nathanson. “After being called out for not doing enough in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, he had the audacity to say that the organization responsible for natural disaster response should be abolished.”
Read more about Michael Whatley’s comments on FEMA and his horrendous record as recovery czar:
- At a May 20 event in Brunswick County, Michael Whatley told an attendee he’d like to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- When asked if he’d get rid of the disaster agency, he replied, “I’ve suggested the president do that.”
- Whatley told the May 20 event attendee, “I think we need an Office of Disaster Management that will work directly for Markwayne Mullin and then be able to do block grants to the state.”
- After Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, claiming at least 107 lives and inflicting around $60 billion in damage, Trump named Whatley as the hurricane recovery czar for the region.
- To date, North Carolina has received just 12-14% of the funds needed to complete western North Carolina’s recovery.
- All federal funding provided to western North Carolina for Helene recovery was part of a $100 billion disaster relief bill passed at the end of the Biden administration in 2024.
Published: Jul 31, 2026