Written by GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA

Some employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who signed a public letter of dissent earlier this week were put on administrative leave Tuesday evening, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.

More than 180 current and former FEMA employees signed the letter sent to the FEMA Review Council and Congress on Monday critiquing recent cuts to agency staff and programs, and warning that FEMA’s capacity to respond to a major disaster was dangerously diminished.

Thirty-five signed their names while 141 signed anonymously for fear of retribution.

The Associated Press has confirmed that at least two of the signatories received notices Tuesday evening informing them they would be placed on leave indefinitely, with pay and that they must still check in every morning confirming their availability. It was unclear what the status was for other signatories.

The notice said the decision “is not a disciplinary action and is not intended to be punitive.”

FEMA did not respond immediately to questions about how many staff received the notice and whether it was related to the opposition letter.

The Washington Post first reported that some FEMA employees were being put on leave.

The dissent letter contained six “statements of opposition” to current policies at FEMA, including an expenditure approval policy by which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem must approve contracts exceeding $100,000, which the signatories said reduces FEMA’s ability to perform its mission.

It also critiqued the DHS decision to reassign some FEMA employees to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the failure to appoint a qualified FEMA administrator as stipulated by law, and cuts to mitigation programs, preparedness training and FEMA workforce.

In an email Monday, FEMA spokesperson Daniel Llargues said that the Trump administration “has made accountability and reform a priority so that taxpayer dollars actually reach the people and communities they are meant to help.”

“It is not surprising that some of the same bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency are now objecting to reform,” Llargues said. “Change is always hard.”

Employees at other agencies including the National Institutes of Health and Environmental Protection Agency have issued similar statements. About 140 EPA staff members at the were placed on administrative leave for signing an opposition letter.

 

Featured photo via Makiya Seminera.

 

Related Stories
‹
Despite Restored Water Operations, Town of Hillsborough Faces Extensive Costs From Flooding
While the Town of Hillsborough ended its conservation call for water and sewer customers after flooding damaged and contaminated its treatment plants, the road back to normal operations appears to be long for the small town. Historic rain from Tropical Depression Chantal led to flooding levels not seen for decades in Orange County, with parts […]
US Launches Strikes on Iranian Targets a Day After It Foiled Missile Attack on American Forces
The new strikes came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” after it targeted a base in Jordan that hosts U.S. troops.
Sex Work or Starve: Aid Workers in Nepal Left Jobless by USAID Cuts Turn to Sex Work to Survive
After the United States slashed its foreign aid funding last year, more than 280,000 aid workers worldwide found themselves out of a job. In impoverished Nepal, the impact on queer aid workers’ lives was particularly crushing.
'A Fundamental Shift on What It Means to Be a Citizen': The Ongoing Immigration Debate
Despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision re-affirming birthright citizenship, arguments about what it means to be a citizen persist.
Goals, Technology and Hydration Breaks: How the Biggest World Cup in History Will Be Remembered
The World Cup final between Spain and defending champion Argentina marked the end of the biggest tournament in the competition’s history. Here are some takeaways from the month-long event.
ICE Agent’s Killing of Maine Motorist Is at Least the Ninth Death in US Immigration Sweeps
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a Maine motorist on Monday, marking at least the ninth death since the start of the Trump administration’s mass deportations campaign.
Local Governments Facing 'Years-Long' Recovery from Chantal's Floods, But Progress is Being Made
One year after Tropical Storm Chantal’s significant rainfall flooded several areas in the Triangle, the region’s local governments are still adjusting to its physical and financial impacts.
US Launches New Strikes on Iran, Revokes Oil Sales Permit After 3 Ships Attacked in Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military attacked Iran early Wednesday after it said Tehran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, part of an American effort that also revoked the Islamic Republic’s ability to openly sell crude oil in the world market.
Americans Step Out for Their Nation’s 250th in a Proud Moment Sown With Division and Doubt
Those who think President Donald Trump deserves their support and those who don’t are joining in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Trump Filing Shows He Took in About $1.2 Billion From Crypto Businesses Last Year
President Donald Trump took in nearly $1.2 billion from his crypto businesses last year, a federal filing released Tuesday shows, locking in profits while his investors were socked with losses.
›