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Staffers who signed ‘Katrina Declaration’ critical of Trump administration are reinstated at FEMA
The agency ordered the 14 staffers back after months on leave as new leadership rolls back Noem-era policies ahead of hurricane season.
- On Thursday, April 30, 2026, FEMA reinstated at least 15 whistleblowers who were placed on indefinite administrative leave eight months ago after signing the "Katrina Declaration," a public letter criticizing administration disaster preparedness policies.
- Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem placed the employees on leave last August after they signed the letter warning that administration policies and staffing cuts risked a catastrophe on the scale of Hurricane Katrina.
- Employees received instructions Wednesday to return to work Thursday morning; FEMA statistician James Stroud reported to headquarters and said the reinstatement felt "weird" after eight months of paid leave doing nothing.
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is rolling back Noem-era policies, including a $100,000 spending approval requirement, to stabilize the agency ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and FIFA World Cup.
- The Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council will present recommendations next week proposing sweeping changes to the agency, as officials work to restore staffing before hurricane season begins in 30 days.
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38 Articles
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reinstated a group of employees who had been suspended for publicly warning about shortcomings in the country's disaster preparedness.
FEMA reinstates whistleblowers as Trump administration reverses Noem's policies
FEMA reinstates whistleblowers as Trump administration reverses Noem’s policies This article features a Government Accountability Project case and was originally published here. FEMA has reinstated a group of whistleblowers who signed an open letter to Congress last August warning that the Trump administration’s dismantling of the federal agency was setting the stage for a disaster-response breakdown on the scale of Hurricane Katrina, according …
Coverage Details
Total News Sources38
Leaning Left12Leaning Right9Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution38% Left
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left
38% Left
L 38%
C 34%
R 28%
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