On Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) suspended over 20 employees who had endorsed an open letter cautioning that the Trump administration’s restructuring of the agency could severely hinder disaster response.
The letter, which was made public on Monday and titled the “Katrina Declaration,” garnered signatures from 191 current and former Fema employees. Of these, only 35 chose to disclose their names, while the remainder opted for anonymity due to concerns about potential retaliation. The declaration accused President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of eroding Fema’s authority, appointing unqualified leaders, and reducing essential resources necessary for disaster preparedness. It called on Congress to protect the agency from political meddling.
On Tuesday evening, some employees who had publicly signed the letter received notifications via email indicating that they had been placed on paid administrative leave “effective immediately.” The correspondence stated that these staff members were prohibited from accessing Fema facilities, agency systems, or performing official duties, yet were still expected to be available during business hours. The emails did not provide a rationale, emphasizing that the action was “not disciplinary.”
These suspensions occur as the United States commemorates the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating and expensive disasters in the nation’s history. The letter cautioned that many of the reforms established in the aftermath of that disaster are now in jeopardy of being undone.
The Trump administration has suggested extensive changes to Fema, including reallocating responsibilities to states and even proposing the elimination of Fema altogether. This year, the agency has already seen a reduction of nearly one-third of its workforce due to layoffs and resignations.
Daniel Llargues, Fema’s acting press secretary, defended the administration’s actions, asserting that Trump’s reforms are intended to eliminate “red tape, inefficiency, and outdated processes” that have impeded disaster relief.
