The Headlines FEMA Is Forcing Towns to Fend for Themselves, and Trump Opens ‘Gold Card’ Visa Applications
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Dec 11, 2025 A town in Maryland grapples with FEMA's denials for disaster aid, highlighting political maneuvering behind funding decisions. The U.S. ramps up pressure on Maduro by seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker. Meanwhile, the Trump administration opens applications for controversial million-dollar expedited visas, stirring debates. The EPA is reexamining formaldehyde risk limits, possibly favoring the chemical industry. Lastly, a major Louvre heist exposed alarming security lapses, raising questions about oversight.
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Small Town Flooded, Federal Aid Denied
- Western Port, Maryland, was left with flooded schools, a ruined library and streets full of mud after heavy rain in May.
- FEMA denied state requests for disaster aid even after a detailed $30 million damage report, leaving the town to fend for itself.
FEMA's Shift And Political Favoritism
- Under the Trump administration, FEMA has scaled back disaster funding and delayed some approved payments.
- The administration is shifting recovery responsibility to states and has politicized aid decisions by favoring supportive states.
Controversial FEMA Appointment
- The new FEMA appointee, Greg Phillips, lacks listed emergency-management experience and promoted election-fraud conspiracies.
- His role could influence disaster-aid decisions amid political controversy over FEMA's neutrality.