Scott Pushed FEMA to Let the Invisible Hand Handle Hurricanes

The Florida senator pressured Biden's FEMA nominee and sought to punish towns that didn't sign contracts with private companies

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Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) talks non-stop in a video that his office said showed him receiving a briefing Tuesday on Hurricane Milton. (Screengrab / Scott video.)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said it was prepared for Hurricane Milton.

But Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the agency lacks funds for the remainder of hurricane season. And The New York Times reported Monday that FEMA only had 1,217 staffers available to respond to Milton or other disasters.

If FEMA is seen to perform poorly in response to — or preparation for — Hurricane Milton, the most prominent prescription will likely be privatization. (The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan includes wholesale privatization and cuts to disaster relief.) 

But privatization has already been the trend. And Republicans have been at the forefront. If FEMA does fall short, it’ll be worth looking at whether increased privatization was a cause instead of a possible solution.

Pres. Donald Trump’s FEMA administrator, for instance, answered critiques of the botched response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico by calling for more privatization. As I reported for TYT at the time, Administrator Brock Long wasn’t just a former private-sector disaster guy, he was funneling FEMA funds to his old clients.

And then there’s one of Florida’s elected officials, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).