President Trump appoints Tampa mayor to FEMA council

Colbi Edmonds, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 28, 2025

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Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor has been tapped to serve on a bipartisan federal panel that President Donald Trump formed to review how the nation responds to disasters.

Trump announced the formation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council in January. It will advise the president on how to improve Federal Emergency Management Agency operations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are co-chairs.

“Parts of Tampa and much of Tampa Bay were devastated by Hurricane Helene and, 13 days later, by Milton,” Castor said in a statement. “Given the critical importance of emergency services and response to vulnerable communities like Tampa, I am pleased to have been selected to serve on this council.”

Among other appointed members are Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz.

“I am proud to announce the formation of the FEMA Review Council, comprised of Top Experts in their fields, who are Highly Respected by their peers,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. “I know that the new Members will work hard to fix a terribly broken System, and return power to State Emergency Managers, who will help, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”

Residents throughout Tampa Bay have struggled with hurricane recovery since last storm season, and often cite the bureaucracy of FEMA as an additional barrier to timely recovery.

At her State of the City address Monday, Castor focused on Tampa’s effort to make the city more resilient to weather events and gave reassurance to residents the city would continue work on assisting their recovery.

“I’ve seen anguish and fear in the eyes of so many Tampanians, and I promise you will not be forgotten,” she said.

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