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 stated that the agency's obligation was to the survivors of disasters, not to protecting broken systems.
The spokesman further remarked that it was unsurprising that those who had overseen inefficiencies would now resist reform, emphasizing that change is challenging for those comfortable with the status quo.
The recent flooding in Texas renewed scrutiny of America's disaster readiness and followed Trump's extensive overhaul of FEMA since his return to office in January, where he suggested the agency might be completely abolished.
Employees at FEMA have cited frustrations with budget cuts and reporting deficiencies, leading to significant workforce attrition. Reports indicate that about a third of FEMA's workforce has departed since the beginning of the year.
Of the 191 FEMA employees who signed Monday's open letter, most remained anonymous, expressing concerns about the agency's operation under the constraints of politicization and resource limitation. The letter urged an end to political interference and called for the reinstatement of effective disaster management practices to avoid further catastrophes.
Despite the claims made in the letter, a FEMA official defended recent efforts as being focused on delivering services efficiently, stating that the agency had previously been hindered by bureaucratic delays.
Suspended employees have been placed on non-duty status, allowing them to continue receiving pay and benefits, though officials emphasized this was not a disciplinary action, merely a precaution amid ongoing evaluations.
The suspensions occurred in the wake of deadly flooding events, including responses to the July flooding in Texas that resulted in tragic loss of life, bringing the effectiveness of FEMA's operations into public discourse once again.
