The other thing about FEMA my understanding is that it was supposed to move into the Department of Homeland Security... and be what it was but also having a lot of lateral communication with all those others involved in that issue of homeland security.
When political and business leaders tell the public - any public - 'We don't trust you to make the right decision' - they prejudice that electorate against the very proposals they want it to accept and undermine public confidence in themselves.