The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has reportedly suspended a number of staff who criticized the agency's direction under US President Donald Trump. The staff are said to have been among those who recently signed an open letter that castigated Trump officials over cuts and alleged interference, warning that another 'national catastrophe' akin to Hurricane Katrina was possible.
More than 20 employees were told on Tuesday that they had been put on administrative leave, according to sources who spoke to the BBC's US partner, CBS News. The BBC has asked Fema for comment.
There has been renewed scrutiny of US disaster readiness after recent deadly flooding in Texas.
Trump set about drastically overhauling the disaster-management agency soon after returning to office in January, when he mooted the idea of 'maybe getting rid of Fema' altogether. He has characterised the organisation as inefficient and suggested that state-level officials were better placed to respond to natural disasters.
Reports suggest that hundreds of employees - representing about a third of Fema's workforce - have left their jobs since the start of the year for various reasons.
Of the 191 Fema employees who signed Monday's open letter criticising the agency's direction under Trump, the majority remained anonymous. The letter reflected on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, pointing out that the storm had claimed more than 1,800 lives and had highlighted the need for competent American disaster-management leadership.
The letter took the Trump administration to task for cuts to the agency's funding and workforce, the failure to appoint a permanent agency boss and other issues including perceived 'censorship of climate science.' Addressing the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council, the letter demanded protection against 'interference' from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and an end to 'politically motivated firings.'
In response, a Fema official defended the agency's work and reforms under Trump - saying it was committed to delivering for the American people and had previously been 'bogged down by red tape' and other inefficiencies.
Some employees who signed the letter received emails stating they had been put on administrative leave 'effective immediately,' while asserting it was 'not a disciplinary action and is not intended to be punitive.'
The Washington Post reported that at least two of the suspended Fema staff had been involved in the federal response to natural disasters, including the recent flooding in Texas, where scores of people died. The tensions around the suspensions come amid a busy hurricane season and heightened expectations for Fema's role amidst climate change.
More than 20 employees were told on Tuesday that they had been put on administrative leave, according to sources who spoke to the BBC's US partner, CBS News. The BBC has asked Fema for comment.
There has been renewed scrutiny of US disaster readiness after recent deadly flooding in Texas.
Trump set about drastically overhauling the disaster-management agency soon after returning to office in January, when he mooted the idea of 'maybe getting rid of Fema' altogether. He has characterised the organisation as inefficient and suggested that state-level officials were better placed to respond to natural disasters.
Reports suggest that hundreds of employees - representing about a third of Fema's workforce - have left their jobs since the start of the year for various reasons.
Of the 191 Fema employees who signed Monday's open letter criticising the agency's direction under Trump, the majority remained anonymous. The letter reflected on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, pointing out that the storm had claimed more than 1,800 lives and had highlighted the need for competent American disaster-management leadership.
The letter took the Trump administration to task for cuts to the agency's funding and workforce, the failure to appoint a permanent agency boss and other issues including perceived 'censorship of climate science.' Addressing the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council, the letter demanded protection against 'interference' from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and an end to 'politically motivated firings.'
In response, a Fema official defended the agency's work and reforms under Trump - saying it was committed to delivering for the American people and had previously been 'bogged down by red tape' and other inefficiencies.
Some employees who signed the letter received emails stating they had been put on administrative leave 'effective immediately,' while asserting it was 'not a disciplinary action and is not intended to be punitive.'
The Washington Post reported that at least two of the suspended Fema staff had been involved in the federal response to natural disasters, including the recent flooding in Texas, where scores of people died. The tensions around the suspensions come amid a busy hurricane season and heightened expectations for Fema's role amidst climate change.
