Over 160 million Americans could be pummeled by a massive winter storm this weekend, with utility companies warning of dangerous, potentially life-threatening power outages.
Why it matters: The storm will be FEMA's first major, multistate rapid activation since the Trump administration began reducing the agency's manpower — and watchdogs warn it may not be ready.
The big picture: No major storms made landfall in the U.S. during the 2025 hurricane season, but this weekend's deluge could dump inches of crippling ice, freezing rain or heavy snow to regions not used to dealing with extreme winter weather.
- Multiple energy companies have warned customers to prepare for "multi-day outages."
- Meteorologists are comparing the downfall to Texas' February 2021 storm when a freeze killed more than 200 people after power failures.
- Plus, President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have previously floated dismantling FEMA and seemingly denied aid requests on partisan lines, fueling local leaders' doubts that they can depend on the administration.
Context: The administration tried to dismantle FEMA's bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which funds disaster mitigation projects.
- Per a FEMA tipsheet, every dollar the agency spends on mitigation saves roughly six dollars in post-disaster costs. A coalition of states sued to block the cuts, and won.
What they're saying: Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday he has been briefed on the "Record Cold Wave and Historic Winter Storm that will be hitting much of the United States this weekend" and his administration is coordinating with state and local officials.
- "FEMA is fully prepared to respond," the president said, sharing the National Weather Service's forecast map.
- A White House spokesperson said in an emailed statement, "The President responds to each request for Federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration."
- "There is no politicization to the President's decisions on disaster relief," they added.
State of play: FEMA has deployed more than 20 staff to state emergency operations centers to coordinate storm preparation and response, according to an internal memo reviewed by Axios.
- Three Incident Management Assistance Teams have been deployed, with 15 more available if needed.
- Governors can tap 28 Urban Search and Rescue teams and both FEMA's National and Regional Response Coordination Centers are actively monitoring the situation.
- Plus, shuttle drivers are positioned in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas and Georgia to move supplies as needed, and personnel will increase if necessary.
Thought bubble from Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick: The storm will test the Trump administration's desire to shunt disaster response and relief off to the states.
- FEMA and other federal agencies played a major role in past administrations, and some states are ill-equipped to respond to major disasters and help rebuild in their aftermath.
The White House spokesperson said that the administration "remains committed" to working with "local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes, making response less urgent and recovery less prolonged."
By the numbers: FEMA reportedly planned to cut roughly 50% of its workforce this year — including roughly 300 people already let go this month alone — but some reductions are paused ahead of the storm, according to CNN.
- Those plans come after a 2023 Government Accountability Office report that FEMA has a persistent ongoing staffing gap across the agency.
More from Axios:
- Snow survival 101: How to stay safe during a winter storm
- 7 snow driving tips from an upstate New Yorker
- Winter storm essential beyond bread and milk: Giving blood
Editor's note: This story has been updated with President Trump's statement.
