By GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA, Related Press
Present and former workers of the Federal Emergency Administration Company demonstrated towards workforce and program cuts throughout a “FEMA Solidarity Rally” on Friday, a doubtlessly dangerous act of protest as a result of a number of the similar staffers have been positioned on depart after signing a public dissent letter in August.
A number of dozen folks gathered exterior the FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., calling on President Donald Trump to cease dismantling the company charged with managing the federal catastrophe response. They warned that eliminating FEMA, one thing the president instructed he would take into account, would put lives in danger and harm communities.
“It’s clear these disasters have gotten extra frequent and extra intense,” Jeremy Edwards, the company’s deputy director of public affairs beneath President Joe Biden, mentioned on the rally. “Our nation wants FEMA now greater than ever. And proper now, FEMA wants us, too.”
The demonstration additionally was a name to help FEMA workers members who’ve been on paid administrative depart for practically two months after signing a public letter of dissent in August. That letter criticized Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem and different Trump officers for slicing workers and packages.
“Strive as they could to run us over, we’re not backing down, and we’re placing up one hell of a battle,” mentioned Phoenix Gibson, one of many few present FEMA workers who publicly signed the dissent letter.
FEMA didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the rally.
Demonstrators waved indicators that mentioned “FEMA Saves Lives” and “Arms off FEMA” whereas audio system paid tribute to FEMA’s workers and mission, which they mentioned has been beneath assault by the Trump administration.
FEMA veterans recalled proud moments once they helped deploy search and rescue groups after the 1995 Oklahoma Metropolis bombing, or helped nail tarps to folks’s roofs after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Michael Coen, FEMA chief of workers within the Obama and Biden administrations, mentioned the staff’ dedication to serving to folks compelled them “to warn Congress and the American folks of the cascading results of the selections being made by the present administration.”
Organizers mentioned they need Noem to reinstate signers of the August declaration, for appearing administrator David Richardson to resign and for FEMA workers to now not be required to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Trump has repeatedly floated the thought of eliminating or phasing out FEMA, although that rhetoric has shifted in latest months. Noem usually says FEMA ought to be eradicated “because it exists right now” and remade into one thing new.
The company has been in upheaval since January. About 18% of the company’s everlasting full-time workers have departed, together with 24 senior-level staffers, based on the Authorities Accountability Workplace.
The administration additionally has slashed resilience and preparedness funding. A requirement that Noem personally approve any spending over $100,000 has drawn sharp criticism and was even blamed for delays in deploying search-and-rescue groups after the lethal Texas floods in July.
Trump appointed a 12-person FEMA evaluation council led by Noem and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth. It’s anticipated to submit its suggestions round December.
Any main adjustments to FEMA’s authority would require motion by Congress. Lawmakers within the Home launched the bipartisan “FEMA Act” this summer season, which requires returning FEMA to a Cupboard-level company, deploying project-based grants as a substitute of reimbursements, and making a single software for all federal catastrophe assist for survivors, amongst different reforms.
Rally organizers mentioned they supported the invoice.
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