Threat of FEMA Abolishment, Layoffs Lands Mississippi as American Rivers’ Top Endangered River for 2025
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
4/16/2025, Washington D.C. — American Rivers is today, naming the Mississippi River as America’s Most Endangered River® of 2025. At a time when extreme weather is driving more frequent and devastating floods, hundreds of layoffs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and calls to abolish both the agency itself and the National Flood Insurance Program risks river health and human safety along the entirety of its 2,320-mile stretch and could compound longstanding threats to the river.
“The Mississippi River is vital to our nation’s health, wealth and security. We drink from it, we grow our food with it, we travel on it, we live alongside it, and simply, we admire its beauty,” said Mike Sertle, Central region director for American Rivers. “We cannot turn our back on Mississippi River communities or the health of the river millions depend on at this critical time when they need unified direction instead of uncertainty at the national level.”
“FEMA plays an essential role in reducing flood risks, supporting resilient development, and ensuring communities have the tools they need to prepare for and recover from disasters. Without strong federal leadership in flood risk management, communities along the Mississippi River— and across the country — will face even greater threats from worsening floods,” said Chad Berginnis, Executive Director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). “At the same time, we recognize that states and local governments must take on a greater role in managing flood risks. Strengthening their capacity — whether through incentives or penalties — will lead to better outcomes. But no amount of state or local action can replace the need for coordinated federal support, especially when major disasters strike. Now is the time to reinforce our national commitment to flood risk reduction, not walk away from it.”
Far beyond just emergency response and rebuilding after disaster, FEMA is responsible for supporting states and communities with reducing and recovering from flood damages by developing minimum standards for construction in floodplains, providing flood insurance to homeowners, and mitigating future risks. FEMA also helps in relocating flood-prone homes to higher ground. The most cost-effective way to reduce disaster response costs is to invest in mitigating the impacts of disasters before they happen. Every $1 spent on flood mitigation yields $7 in benefits.
“Ensuring the health of the Mississippi River is essential for both wildlife and communities that rely on its waters,” said Jessie Ritter, Associate Vice President, Waters and Coasts with National Wildlife Federation. “The river supports diverse ecosystems, provides drinking water to millions, and serves as a critical artery for economic activity. We must unite together to ensure that the Mississippi River remains a source of life, prosperity, and inspiration now and for future generations to come.”
Healthy rivers need healthy floodplains, and when poorly planned development is allowed in these low-lying areas, floods damage homes and businesses in harm’s way. It also sends vast amounts of pollution — including chemicals, debris and sewage — into the river, and the impacts to water quality are immense.
The Mississippi River is America’s River, a rich part of our cultural heritage, a vital ecosystem for wildlife and recreation, and an artery for the economy”, says Kelly McGinnis, Executive Director of One Mississippi. “Communities and businesses desperately need more support to deal with the impacts caused by flooding, especially at times of increased intensity in weather events, instead of less. It is crucial to address the threats facing the River and those who depend on it so that the Mississippi River can be a vibrant ecosystem and support federal policies that lead to the river’s improved health.”
The Mississippi River or “America’s River” spans 10 states and 123 counties from the headwaters in Minnesota to its mouth in Louisiana. The Mississippi River carries more water than any other of the nation’s rivers and is the primary source of drinking water for more than 50 municipalities. The river and its 30-million-acre floodplain also provide vital habitat for more than 870 species of fish and wildlife, including dozens of rare, threatened and endangered species.
Longstanding threats to the river include chemical runoff that has led to regular toxic algae outbreaks in significant stretches of the river as well as hypoxic dead zones, sea level rise that is accelerating wetland loss and saltwater intrusion, exacerbating droughts, and infrastructure like levees and navigation structures that negatively impact the natural flow of the river.
American Rivers and our partners are calling on the Trump administration to forgo its interest in abolishing FEMA and instead focus on needed improvements including updating flood risk maps, improving land-use standards, and making community grant programs more swift, efficient, and effective. We are urging the administration’s newly assembled FEMA advisory group—which includes government officials including the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense and other officials outside of the government to establish strong policy recommendations that maximize the safety, security, and prosperity of Mississippi River communities and improve river health.
Learn more about America’s Most Endangered Rivers 2025, including other rivers and selection process.
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American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and strength of our communities. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org