The Steady Drip: Trump Orders FEMA to Suspend Disaster Deployments (Connecting the Dots: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), The Department of Homeland Security, Ted Lieu, The Carnegie, CNN Reported, The Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future, The Chertoff Group, BAE Systems Inc. & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Trump Orders FEMA to Suspend Disaster Deployments (Connecting the Dots: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), The Department of Homeland Security, Ted Lieu, The Carnegie, CNN Reported, The Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future, The Chertoff Group, BAE Systems Inc. & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Newsmax.com

Thursday, 19 February 2026 06:55 AM EST

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/trump-fema-disaster/2026/02/19/id/1246656/

President Donald Trump's administration has ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to suspend the deployment of hundreds of aid workers to disaster-affected areas around the country while the Department of Homeland Security is shut down, internal messages reviewed by Reuters showed.

DHS, which FEMA is part of, entered a partial shutdown on Saturday, but has largely continued to operate since most of its functions are deemed essential. The shutdown happened after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach a deal on immigration enforcement reforms.

"DHS has issued a stop-travel order for all DHS funded travel, effecting 2/18/26, for the duration of the lapse in appropriation. Currently this DOES include disaster travel," according to an internal email sent by Kurt Weirich, a chief of staff at FEMA.

More than 300 FEMA disaster responders were preparing for upcoming assignments but were told to stand down, including some who are currently at a training facility, CNN reported earlier.

The freeze comes after Trump said on Monday the federal government will step in to protect the Potomac River following the collapse of a major sewer pipe in the Washington, D.C., region last month.

A sewer line in Montgomery County, Maryland, collapsed on Jan. 19, causing an overflow of more than 240 million gallons (909 million liters) of wastewater into the Potomac River.

Trump said FEMA, which has seen significant staff cuts since he took office in January 2025, will coordinate the response. So far, however, FEMA has deployed few, if any, resources to assist with the sewage spill, CNN reported, citing three agency officials.

A FEMA spokesperson told CNN restrictions on travel were "not a choice but are necessary to comply with federal law."

The statement cited by CNN added that "FEMA travel related to active disasters is not canceled."

FEMA's mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods. It brings in emergency personnel, supplies and equipment to stricken areas.

Connecting the Dots:
Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award and has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was a managing director at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Nathaniel T.G. Fogg was a management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton and the deputy COO for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Secret Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Jayson P. Ahern was the acting commissioner for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is a principal at the Chertoff Group.

Katy Montgomery was the deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is a senior director at the Chertoff Group.

Charles E. Allen was an undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is a principal for the Chertoff Group.

Jay M. Cohen was an undersecretary for science & technology for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is a principal for the Chertoff Group.

Paul A. Schneider was a deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a principal for the Chertoff Group.

Debbie Eng was an associate executive secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is a managing director for the Chertoff Group.

Chad C. Sweet was a chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is a co-founder & CEO for the Chertoff Group.

Michael Chertoff was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is a co-founder & chairman for the Chertoff Group and the chairman for BAE Systems Inc.

Lee H. Hamilton is a director at BAE Systems Inc., a co-chair for the Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and a friend of Michael Douglas.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Jessica Tuchman Mathews was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Ted Turner is a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and the founder of CNN.

Warren E. Buffett is an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a director at the Coca-Cola Company.

Donald F. McHenry is a director at the Coca-Cola Company and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

James D. Robinson III is a director at the Coca-Cola Company and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Coca-Cola Company was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

PepsiCo, Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Michael H. Jordan was the division chairman & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc. and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Larry D. Thompson is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the EVP of governmental affairs, general counsel & secretary for PepsiCo, Inc.

Kimberly Cheatle served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo. and is the 27^th director for the U.S. Secret Service.