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In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, FEMA is facing a barrage of whistleblower complaints and accusations of gross mismanagement. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has publicly called for the resignation of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, vowing to subject her to a harsh grilling before the Oversight Committee, stating that Criswell will face “worse than the full Kimberly Cheatle treatment” for FEMA’s failures.
Adding fuel to the fire, Elon Musk joined the criticism of FEMA’s handling of relief efforts, particularly in North Carolina. In a series of posts on X, Musk accused FEMA of blocking his SpaceX engineers from delivering Starlink terminals and other supplies to disaster-stricken areas. Musk’s team had deployed over 300 Starlink terminals to restore communication, but FEMA allegedly obstructed their efforts. One of Musk’s engineers detailed additional hurdles imposed by FEMA and the FAA, which slowed the delivery of critical aid.
Meanwhile, multiple whistleblowers have come forward accusing FEMA of failing to issue timely deployment orders to first responders, leaving communities without much-needed assistance. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, claiming that FEMA withheld essential pre-disaster funds and left service members idle as Hurricane Helene devastated the southeastern U.S. Gaetz reported, “Hundreds, if not thousands of service members were deployed by the Department of Defense to North Carolina and have sat idle, waiting for FEMA.”
As criticism mounts, FEMA’s reputation continues to plummet. Despite Congress approving a $20 billion emergency package on September 25, FEMA claimed it lacks the funds to manage ongoing disasters. Whistleblowers also allege that FEMA has been diverting resources to house illegal immigrants under the Biden administration’s border programs, rather than focusing on disaster relief.
FEMA Director Deanne Criswell will be coming before the Oversight Committee and will receive the full Kimberly Cheatle treatment.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene???????? (@RepMTG) October 4, 2024
Probably worse.
FEMA is confiscating supplies, blocking help to Helene survivors, and using disaster relief funds to house illegals.
Resign Deanne. https://t.co/v9s7h85s5T pic.twitter.com/1YF2Px9yVm
Rep. Greene’s demand for Criswell’s resignation comes as scrutiny over FEMA’s handling of disasters continues to intensify. Earlier this year, Criswell faced questions from Congress about FEMA’s response to crises in East Palestine, Ohio, and Maui, Hawaii. Concerns have also grown over the agency’s ability to manage its core mission while tackling new challenges like pandemics and the migrant crisis, amidst reports of staffing shortages and billions in fraudulent payments related to COVID-19 response efforts.
