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. Asked by the BBC for a comment, a Fema spokesperson said the agency's obligation was to survivors of disasters, 'not to protecting broken systems'.
The spokesperson also said: 'It is not surprising that some of the same bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency are now objecting to reform.'
There has been renewed scrutiny of US disaster readiness after recent deadly flooding in Texas, and as a result of Trump actions during his second presidency. 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 characterized the organization 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.
The letter, which reflective of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, highlighted the need for competent American disaster-management leadership. It criticized cuts to Fema's funding and workforce while addressing the perceived 'censorship of climate science'.
Some of those who signed the letter received emails stating they had been placed on administrative leave 'effective immediately, and continuing until further notice'. The emails assured that this was 'not a disciplinary action and is not intended to be punitive'.
With the North Atlantic hurricane season now underway, expectations are high that Fema will be busier than usual due to warmer sea temperatures intensified by 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. Asked by the BBC for a comment, a Fema spokesperson said the agency's obligation was to survivors of disasters, 'not to protecting broken systems'.
The spokesperson also said: 'It is not surprising that some of the same bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency are now objecting to reform.'
There has been renewed scrutiny of US disaster readiness after recent deadly flooding in Texas, and as a result of Trump actions during his second presidency. 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 characterized the organization 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.
The letter, which reflective of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, highlighted the need for competent American disaster-management leadership. It criticized cuts to Fema's funding and workforce while addressing the perceived 'censorship of climate science'.
Some of those who signed the letter received emails stating they had been placed on administrative leave 'effective immediately, and continuing until further notice'. The emails assured that this was 'not a disciplinary action and is not intended to be punitive'.
With the North Atlantic hurricane season now underway, expectations are high that Fema will be busier than usual due to warmer sea temperatures intensified by climate change.
