Biden: FEMA's response to Hurricane Ian is 'reinforcing' faith in government

© Evan Vucci/AP Photo President Joe Biden speaks about Hurricane Ian during a visit to FEMA headquarters on Sept. 29, 2022, in Washington.

President Joe Biden on Thursday praised the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its response to Hurricane Ian, telling the room full of FEMA workers that they’re restoring Americans’ faith in their government.

Biden stopped to speak to the workers after attending a FEMA briefing on the hurricane’s devastation in Florida. Biden stated that faith in government institutions has been declining over the past six-ten years.

“You are reinforcing people’s faith in institutions,” Biden said at the FEMA headquarters. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Trust in government and its institutions is a long-standing pillar of Biden's agenda. It was also a central point of his presidential campaign in 2020. During Biden’s first year in office, he signed an executive order aimed at this priority, making it easier for Americans to renew passports, apply for Social Security and receive aid after facing natural disasters — the idea being to put public interest and customer service at the center of government operations.

The public’s trust in government has remained low through much of the 21st Century. But the data is approaching a new all-time low, according to the latest research from Pew Research Center that found that just 20 percent of Americans feel that “they trust the government in Washington to do the right thing just about always or most of the time.”

During Thursday’s speech, Biden thanked FEMA again and other federal employees for their emergency response.

“I’ve seen you in action all across the country from the West coast of the Northwest and the Northeast, down in Louisiana, all across this country,” Biden said. “And just in the last two weeks, you’ve been working 24/7. FEMA is always there for you in times of emergency. You deserve the nation’s gratitude and full support.”

When asked Thursday about his calls to GOP Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis was asked Thursday about his calls with Biden. He brushed off the divergent politics, rhetorical sparring between them that has escalated in recent weeks before the November midterm elections. Biden already issued a disaster declaration for Florida, which will provide federal aid to support state, local, and tribal recovery efforts. The president said that he would travel to Florida if conditions permit.

“This is not about anything having to do with our disagreements politically. This is about saving people’s lives, homes and businesses,” he said. “That’s what this is about.”