Summary
Some employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been placed on administrative leave after signing a letter that criticizes recent policy changes. The letter was sent to the FEMA Review Council and Congress and expressed concerns about staff cuts and program reductions. The notice to the employees stated that the leave is not a disciplinary measure.
Key Facts
- Over 180 current and former FEMA employees signed a dissent letter.
- The letter criticized cuts to FEMA staff and programs, affecting disaster response capacity.
- Thirty-five employees signed the letter openly, while 141 did so anonymously.
- At least two employees who signed the letter were put on administrative leave with pay.
- The leave notice stated it was not disciplinary or punitive.
- One criticism in the letter was a policy requiring Homeland Security's approval of contracts over $100,000.
- The letter opposed FEMA staff reassignment to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- FEMA has not clarified how many employees were placed on leave due to the letter.
