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Houston, Texas – Harris County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne announced that Harris County has sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the Trump Administration’s mass federal firings that threaten to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and undermine disaster response nationwide.

The filing challenges the Administration’s continued efforts to downsize the federal workforce through executive directives and secret staffing plans that conflict with Congress’s clear mandate for FEMA to maintain the capacity to prepare for, respond to, and help communities recover from disasters.

“FEMA is essential to keeping Harris County safe. When disasters strike, FEMA provides the personnel, expertise, and resources that local governments rely on to protect lives and rebuild. Gutting the agency puts communities like ours at serious risk,” said County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne. “These layoffs don’t just affect the County’s finances--they slow our ability to respond and recover when residents need help the most”.

"Dismantling FEMA risks the health and safety of millions of people along the Gulf Coast, especially in the face of devastating hurricanes, winter storms, and other extreme weather events. I’m proud that Harris County is standing up to an out-of-control White House whose misguided mass layoffs will harm workers and endanger our entire community," said Commissioner Rodney Ellis.

“FEMA provides critical assistance after natural disasters, and as the 5-year anniversary of Winter Storm URI approaches, I am reminded how important FEMA’s response is to our recovery. I urge the Court to uphold the TRO,” said Commissioner Adrian Garcia

“FEMA is a critical partner to Harris County and has been essential after disasters like Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Beryl. We won’t stand by and watch as the Trump Administration's continued decimation of this agency put lives at greater risk. We have already seen the catastrophic consequences of cuts to FEMA staffing, from missed emergency calls after the deadly Kerr County floods to slower response times when communities need help the most. Further dismantling will be disastrous, so we are taking action to fight to keep our residents safe,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones.

As part of the filing, Harris County submitted declarations describing the real-world impacts of workforce reductions, including a declaration from Harris County Public Health highlighting FEMA’s critical role following natural disasters and public health emergencies.

The TRO request was filed in existing litigation brought by the County and other jurisdictions around the country last April, challenging the Trump Administration’s massive planned reduction in force. While earlier court orders and congressional action temporarily blocked widespread reductions in force, the Administration has issued new directives requiring agencies to implement workforce reduction plans that have not been made public.

As those protections expire, the Department of Homeland Security has ordered FEMA to cut its workforce by roughly half. Terminations began on December 31, 2025, with more than 10,000 FEMA positions expected to be eliminated in the coming months—threatening the agency’s ability to fulfill its congressionally mandated mission. 

The County’s filing asks the court to immediately halt further workforce reductions and prevent irreversible harm to FEMA’s disaster response capabilities.