Federal Emergency Management Agency suspended more than 20 employees signed on Tuesday An open letter Several sources told CBS News that the Trump administration progressed Katrina after the storm in the disaster relief agency after the storm.
monday Open letter For the Congress – known as the “Katrina Declaration” – said that it was signed by 191 current and former FEMA employees. Some 35 attached their name, while the rest said that they stopped him with fear of vengeance.
According to copies of emails reviewed by CBS News, some of the current FEMA employees on Tuesday night used their names that they were paid on administrative leave.
“On administrative leave, you will be in a non-fee position while continuing to get salary and benefits,” the letter is read. Employees were asked not to visit FEMA facilities, reach the telecom systems of the department or fulfill their official duties separately by responding to the Homeland Security Department.
The agency also told the staff that they should be available to work during commercial hours.
Email did not provide a reason for the decision. Employees were told that the step is “not a disciplinary action and its purpose is not punitive.”
CBS news has reached DHS and FEMA for comments.
Washington Post The first was to report on suspension.
The “Katrina Declaration” was published as Hurricane Katrina’s 20th anniversary in the United States, which was one of the deadliest and most expensive natural disasters in American history. The 2005 storm inspired major changes in the country’s disaster relief system – and Monday’s letter argued that many of those reforms could be reversed by the Trump administration.
The letter accused President Trump of choosing unqualified people to lead FEMA, and criticizes the state and local governments for hardening their infrastructure to reduce the influence of natural disasters and criticize the administration for cutting the agency’s workforce and ending the grant.
The announcement stated that it is expected that changes have been made in time “not only the Hurricane Katrina will represent another national destruction, but will represent FEMA’s effective disruption and the abandonment of American people.”
The Trump administration has insisted on a change in FEMA. Earlier this year, Mr. Trump suggested Either “getting rid of FEMA” or “fundamental improvement” to the agency by carrying forward some of its duties for the state governments. So far this year, the agency has lost Roughly Its employees through firing and voluntary departure.
FEMA acting press secretary Daniel Largas responded to the letter on Monday, defending the records of the Trump administration to handle the natural disasters and arguing on FEMA, “red tape, disability, and chopped with old processes.”
“The Trump administration has created accountability and improved a priority so that the taxpayers really reach the people and communities that they are to help,” Largu said. “It is not surprising that some equal bureaucrats presiding over decades inability are now objecting to reforms. Change is always difficult. It is especially for people invested in the status quo. But our obligation is for the remaining people, not to protect broken systems.”
