📌New Executive Order Aimed at Federal Grantmaking Processes
On August 7, the White House issued an executive order (EO) titled “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.” Notably, the EO is intended to provide for review of grant awards by a senior agency appointee even after peer review processes have occurred. The EO also expressly directs said appointees to exercise independent judgment and not just “routinely defer to the recommendations” of other reviewers. The EO does note that the process should function “consistent with applicable law.”
📌National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC) Terminated
On August 13, 2025, all 25 members of NEMSAC were terminated. The U.S. Department of Transportation stated that it was in accordance with a Presidential Executive Order and the intent is to “reconstitute membership.” NEMSAC “was established in April 2007 as a nationally recognized council of EMS representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of the Department of Transportation, and to the members of the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS).”
📌FEMA Review Council to Hold Third Meeting
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council (‘‘Council’’) has a meeting upcoming at the end of August. The meeting will be led by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense and the intent is to provide updates from the Council Members. embers of the public will be able to attend the meeting virtually.
- Date: The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025
- Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The meeting may end early if the Council has completed its business.
- Meeting instructions for virtual attendance: Members of the public may register to participate in this Council meeting under the following procedures. Each individual can register to attend by entering their full legal name and email address into forms link by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. To receive the link please email Patrick Powers, Designated Federal Officer of the President’s Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council at [email protected].
Members of the public who have registered to participate will be provided the agenda, draft report, and virtual link. For more information about the Council, please visit our website: https://www.dhs.gov/federal-
The Council is committed to ensuring all participants have equal access regardless of disability status. If you require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability to fully participate, please contact Patrick Powers at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Here’s how you can take action today:
✅ Visit CFSI’s Legislative Action Center for information reaching out to Congress.
✅ If your members of Congress are not on the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, ask them to join!
Stay engaged. Stay informed. And together, let’s keep making a difference.