From abolishing FEMA to ratcheting up the president’s immigration spat with Colombia, Republicans are in lockstep with even the most contentious parts of Donald Trump’s MAGA mandate. 

The president is famous for valuing loyalty above all, an issue that plagued him throughout his first term as members of Congress and his own administration leaked his plans to the press, opening him up to attack. 

This time around the 78-year-old is taking a different approach, pulling in Congress by their jacket lapels to whisper exactly what he wants done – and to reinforce that his team of devotees is watching them.  

This week over 100 GOP lawmakers have made the pilgrimage to Florida to craft a plan that will fulfill the president’s many campaign promises at the House GOP retreat hosted at Trump National Doral Miami resort.

Carrying out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, renewing the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and tackling inflation were all keystone issues the Republican told hordes of supporters he would address swiftly. 

At the House Republican retreat’s first day, however, lawmakers did not seem to focus on those big ticket items. 

Instead Republicans focused on backing the president on more controversial pet projects – like having the federal emergency management agency (FEMA) ‘go away.’

‘We support the president’s initiative, obviously, 100 percent, and we will assist from the House in any way we can to contribute to that effort,’ Speaker Mike Johnson said of Trump’s proposal to dissolve the agency at a Monday press conference. 

Mike Johnson, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, speaks at a press conference during the 2025 Republican Issues Conference at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami, Florida, USA, 27 January 2025

President Donald Trump speaks with residents as he tours a fire-affected area in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025. He signed an order Sunday to reexamine the effectiveness of FEMA 

Trump’s order requires a council of advisors to produce a report on FEMA within 180 days. Republicans said they will wait for the report’s findings but noted FEMA’s many issues

‘FEMA has been a partner,’ the Louisiana Republican said. ‘They probably could be a better partner.’

Trump on Sunday signed an executive order establishing an outside council of experts to reexamine FEMA’s effectiveness after a deluge of public criticism of the agency after its performance handling disasters from North Carolina to California.

They are to deliver a report on FEMA’s efficacy to Trump within 180 days. If the report comes back with findings critical of the agency, which the president has called ‘a disaster.’

‘FEMA is in the crosshairs,’ Johnson said, adding that ‘everything is on the table’ as GOP lawmakers look to limit the size and scope of the government. 

During a tour of a North Carolina neighborhood destroyed by September’s Hurricane Helene Trump said ‘FEMA has turned out to be a disaster.’ 

‘I think we recommend that FEMA go away, he added. 

Republicans also sent a warning shot to the president of Colombia who Trump has recently gotten into a spat with over the country denying flights of deported Colombian migrants from the U.S. 

Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday there is ‘no daylight’ between Trump and House Republicans, adding that presidents from countries around the world should prepare planes to fly home their citizens who snuck into the U.S. 

Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Transportation Command is supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement removal flights by providing military airlift

Marines fortify the U.S.-Mexico border after orders from Trump to secure it 

‘If he wants to send his own presidential plane, we’d welcome that,’ Johnson said of  Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who offered is presidential plane to shuttle migrants after Trump threatened the South American country. 

‘It’ll save taxpayers money,’ Johnson added.

‘And you know I urge other foreign leaders to take his cue and send their presidential planes,’ Johnson continued, indicating other countries should be retrieving their citizens from America. 

The president announced on his Truth Social account he is imposing a 25 percent tariff on all goods coming from Colombia – and the punishment will raise to 50 percent in one week’s time.

It came after Colombia refused to let two U.S. Military flights full of migrants land on their soil on Sunday. Trump, in retaliation for the order, immediately announced sanctions against the South American country and its government officials.

‘I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,’ Trump wrote on Sunday.

He announced the tariffs, as well as his imposition of ‘A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters.’

All ‘party members, family members, and supporters of the Colombian government’ also will face visa sanctions, according to Trump’s social media announcement.