The Federal Emergency Management Agency has reinstated employees who signed the “Katrina Declaration,” an open letter that took aim at the Trump administration’s disaster response policies. The move ends a prolonged suspension that began after the letter’s publication in August.
Abby McIlraith, one of the signatories, confirmed the reinstatement to The Hill, saying she feels “vindicated” but also frustrated by the disruption. “It is a crying shame. Over 8 months we couldn’t work, couldn’t help disaster survivors,” she wrote. “Everyone who pays taxes in this country should be angry about this.”
A FEMA spokesperson did not directly comment on the reinstatement but said the agency is “taking targeted steps to stabilize our workforce and strengthen readiness” as hurricane season and the FIFA World Cup approach. “Under new leadership, FEMA is addressing outstanding personnel actions to ensure workforce stability and a strong, deployable surge force for upcoming national events and potential disasters,” the spokesperson added.
McIlraith argued that FEMA is in worse shape now than when she signed the declaration. “A hiring freeze is still in effect, FEMA still has no legally qualified administrator, money isn’t getting to states that need it, we have wildfire and hurricane seasons coming up, and as a result, the public is in severe danger,” she said.
The “Katrina Declaration,” signed by current and former FEMA staffers, criticized then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s policy of personally reviewing expenditures over $100,000. That policy sparked controversy and drew pushback from Republicans who said it delayed funding for their states. Shortly after the letter’s publication, signatories were suspended.
They were briefly reinstated late last year before being suspended again. The latest reinstatement follows former Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) taking over the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA. It also comes ahead of a meeting of the FEMA review council, which President Trump tasked with proposing policy changes at the agency.
McIlraith believes FEMA should be independent of DHS. “If Congress wants to protect their constituencies, they need to safeguard the FEMA mission by legislating to protect staff and assistance programs from further cuts,” she said. The reinstatement highlights ongoing tensions between career staff and political leadership, even as the agency prepares for major natural disasters and international events.
