From CNN: FEMA official who claimed he teleported to Waffle House ousted from agency, sources say. https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/25/politics/fema-official-gregg-phillips-ousted-agency

A top FEMA official who had drawn scrutiny for bizarre past remarks — including claiming he teleported to a Waffle House — has been pushed out of the agency, four sources tell CNN.

White House officials appointed Gregg Phillips in December to lead FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery, one of the agency’s most consequential leadership roles, despite his history of promoting election conspiracy theories, particularly in the aftermath of the 2020 election. He came under national scrutiny in March after CNN reported on a cache of outlandish comments from his appearances on right-wing podcasts, including the teleportation claim.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, confirmed Thursday that Phillips is leaving the agency, saying he is taking leave for personal reasons. But sources tell CNN the departure was not voluntary: New DHS leadership had grown weary of the embarrassment surrounding Phillips’ public image and of his periodic clashes with the department’s other leaders.

From Homeland Security Today: DOT Announces $1.9B to Repair State Roads and Bridges Damaged by Natural Disasters
https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/transportation/dot-announces-1-9b-to-repair-state-roads-and-bridges-damaged-by-natural-disasters/

“U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced $1.86 billion in emergency relief funding to help states accelerate critical repairs to roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure damaged by recent natural disasters and catastrophic events. The funding includes more than $908 million to repair damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

This investment brings the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) total infrastructure commitment for Hurricane Helene damage to $3.4 billion across all impacted states, with $2.9 billion to North Carolina alone.

As hurricane season begins, we’re reminded that when disaster strikes, its essential leaders mobilize quickly to help American families in need,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Our roads and bridges are essential infrastructure that keep our local economies moving. That’s why the Trump Administration is getting these critical dollars out the door so communities can rebuild their transportation networks immediately.”

From HSToday: FEMA Announces More than $420M in Federal Funds to Support Emergency Management Across U.S.

“FEMA has announced more than $420 million in two funding opportunities to empower state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies to strengthen their emergency response capabilities and their resilience to potential catastrophic incidents.

FEMA is disbursing this money through two separate grant programs. Through the Emergency Management Performance Grant program, FEMA is providing $337 million to state, local, Tribal Nation and territorial governments to invest in training and equipment for emergency response personnel. Through the Emergency Operations Center Grant program, FEMA is providing $83 million to enhance state emergency operations centers, which serve as centralized hubs to coordinate information, resources and decision making during a crisis. Both of these programs are focused on building and strengthening emergency preparedness and response capabilities at the state and local level, helping ensure Americans are protected in times of greatest need.”

SabotagingOurSafety: Trump’s FEMA Overhaul Would Scrap $180 Billion Disaster Recovery Program and Replace It With a Formula That Cannot Account for What Recovery Actually Costs.  https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVZLmsXHJScXLTfHccTFmLbg

“Sabotaging Our Safety (SOS) today launched a series examining the Trump administration’s FEMA Review Council final report recommendation by recommendation — starting with the proposal that would have the most direct impact on communities trying to rebuild after a disaster: FEMA’s Public Assistance program. The Council’s report recommends replacing the program, which has delivered approximately $180 billion in disaster recovery grants to states and local governments, with a new parametric block grant system called RAPID.”

From Smart Cities Dive: Is FEMA ready for disaster season? https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/fema-ready-disaster-season/822507/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=CESource-20260611-newsletter

“While a new report warns of staffing shortages, leadership vacancies and strained federal-state relationships, the agency’s acting administrator says it’s prepared for hurricane and wildfire season.
Published June 10, 2026″

From CBS News: New analysis warns FEMA overhaul would make disaster aid harder to access, shifting costs to survivors

“A new analysis warns that a proposed overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency by a Trump-appointed panel would limit access to federal disaster aid for survivors, shifting the burden to state and local governments amid hurricane season.

Last month, the FEMA Review Council floated sweeping changes to the disaster agency, turning it into a leaner organization that plays a supporting role in reacting to natural disasters, requiring state agencies to take the lead. The proposed overhaul, much of which requires congressional approval, came after President Trump suggested trying to “wean” states off of FEMA or eliminating the agency altogether.

But a report penned by Sabotaging Our Safety argues the FEMA Review Council’s plan would first make federal disaster aid harder to unlock, raising the threshold to declare a major natural disaster so high, it would have excluded nearly one-third of declarations spanning from 2012 to 2025.”

From FederalNewsNetwork: GAO reviews how FEMA is helping disaster survivors recover

“FEMA spent almost $400 billion over the last eight to nine years on disaster assistance. State and local governments cannot fund that,” said Chris Currie.”

From Inside Climate News: Why Wildfire Experts Are So Worried About This Year’s Fire Season
With a puny snowpack in the Western mountains and a widespread drought, the nation is a tinderbox. A reorganization of federal firefighting efforts and the departure of many staff qualified to join the fight are heightening concern.

“Across the nation, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), which coordinates the federal wildfire response, the total area burned in 2025 was about two-thirds of the average over the past 10 years.

This year is shaping up to be a very different prospect, wildfire experts warn. Key environmental indicators show that the nation is a tinderbox, gripped by widespread drought and with a light snowpack in the mountains that will offer little relief as its remnants melt away.

At the same time, upheaval in the federal wildland firefighting effort and the loss of many staff qualified to join wildfire incident teams since Donald Trump took power for the second time have left firefighters deeply concerned about their ability to mount an effective response.”

From Inside Climate News: As Seas Rise, Louisiana Faces a Choice: Plan for Movement or Let Crisis Decide

“Coastal Louisiana may be ground zero for climate migration in the U.S., but a new study argues that planning now could turn displacement into agency.”

From CNN:Power struggles and paralysis: Inside FEMA’s lost year as storm season approaches ,

[The Diva wants to note that a reader must have a subscription to CNN to read the article.]