Washington, D.C—Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Subcommittee on Public Buildings, Economic Development and Emergency Management Ranking Member Greg Stanton (D-AZ), House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA) and House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) sent follow-up letters to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Senior Official David Richardson and Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari following the Trump Administration’s unlawful retaliation against FEMA employees that sounded the alarm about failed Agency operations. This letter comes after the Administration took continued retaliatory actions against the whistleblowers following the Members’ initial calls for their reinstatement.
“[M]ore than 190 FEMA employees made a protected whistleblower disclosure to Congress, called the Katrina Declaration, detailing various serious ways in which Trump Administration officials are putting lives at risk by undermining FEMA’s ability to perform disaster response and recovery,” the Members wrote.
“FEMA leadership’s punitive response against courageous whistleblowers sends a chilling message to other federal employees and undermines the integrity of whistleblower protection,” the Members continued. “Actions silencing whistleblowers fosters an environment that discourages employees from reporting malfeasance within the federal government.”
The Members concluded by demanding FEMA follow the law and reinstate the whistleblowers and cease all retaliatory actions immediately.
To read the full letters and list of questions, click here and here.
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