Florida Leaders Tapped for Key Roles on Trump’s FEMA Review Council, Including Miami-Dade Sheriff

Three Florida officials—Kevin Guthrie, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, and Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz—have been appointed by former President Donald Trump to serve on the newly formed FEMA Review Council, a body tasked with overhauling the nation’s disaster relief system.

The high-profile appointments place Florida at the forefront of Trump’s push to decentralize federal emergency management and return more power to the states.

Guthrie, who leads the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), brings extensive experience to the role. Since his 2021 appointment by Governor Ron DeSantis, Guthrie has overseen more than $11 billion in disaster aid distribution across the state—over $8 billion of which came from FEMA. DeSantis has championed Guthrie’s leadership, recently calling him one of the most effective emergency managers in the country.

Joining Guthrie are two other notable Floridians: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, and Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, who now represents South Florida’s public safety and law enforcement interests on the council. Their appointments signal a significant voice for Florida’s urban and coastal communities in shaping future disaster response policies.

The FEMA Review Council, launched by Trump in January, includes a total of 13 members, such as:

• Secretary of Defense appointee Pete Hegseth
• Homeland Security Secretary appointee Kristi Noem
• Texas Governor Greg Abbott
• Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin
• Former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant
• Texas Emergency Management Chief W. Nim Kidd
• FEMA Regional Administrator Bob Fenton

Trump announced the council’s formation as part of a sweeping executive order criticizing FEMA for inefficiency and political bias. The former president specifically alleged that FEMA staff under previous leadership had prioritized aid based on political affiliations—a claim that added urgency to his call for reform.

In his Truth Social post, Trump stated: “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.”

The council is expected to deliver recommendations in the coming months, with a focus on empowering state leaders like Guthrie and local officials such as Sheriff Cordero-Stutz to drive disaster preparedness and response.