Olivia Asher is a reporter at the New Herald Tribune covering breaking news for the Digital Trends Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Plain Dealer.
August 10 , 2025
Washington, DC - President Trump signed an executive order today officially merging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The administration claims the merger is aimed at increasing government efficiency and streamlining emergency response, particularly in the wake of recent budgetary constraints.
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, defended the decision in a press briefing Thursday morning, citing recent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) budget cuts to the FAA as a key factor.
“With reduced funding to the FAA, the nation faces increased risk of air safety incidents,” Leavitt said. “Merging with FEMA ensures that when disasters do occur—whether due to weather, human error, or systemic issues—our response is immediate and integrated. It’s a smart, forward-thinking step in delivering more for less. Another example of greater government efficiency under the Trump administration.”
The executive order, titled "Unified Response Initiative for Aviation and Emergencies", is already drawing criticism from transportation experts and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. While some applaud the attempt at leaner government, many worry about the practical implications of combining two agencies with fundamentally different missions and infrastructures.
The FAA, responsible for regulating and overseeing all aspects of civil aviation, and FEMA, the agency tasked with coordinating federal disaster response, have historically operated in distinct domains. The merger is the first of its kind and would require FEMA to assume responsibility not only for disaster relief, but also for aviation safety oversight, air traffic control modernization, and regulatory enforcement.
Former FAA administrator Stephen Dickson reacted with concern:
“You can’t just fold a safety regulatory agency into an emergency response one and expect the system to work the same. Air safety requires long-term planning, technical expertise, and strict regulatory independence. This could compromise all of that.”
The merger comes in the wake of recent DOGE cuts. The FAA was one of the agencies most impacted, seeing a 23% reduction in funding. With staff furloughs and delayed infrastructure upgrades already causing concern among airline unions and industry leaders, today’s order appears to be the administration’s solution to mounting logistical pressure.
The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized its goal of reducing federal redundancy and improving performance across agencies. Supporters point to recent mergers and department consolidations as proof of a more agile federal apparatus.
“This isn’t chaos—it’s calculated,” Leavitt said. “We’re ensuring the right hands are on deck when the next aviation crisis occurs. Whether it's a runway incident or a mid-air emergency, FEMA will already be mobilized.”
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