FEMA Employees Put on Leave After Major Warning to Congress

Intermediate | September 6, 2025

✨ Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

FEMA Employees Put on Leave—Then Face Suspension

On August 26–27, 2025, around 180 current and former FEMA employees signed and sent a public letter—called the “Katrina Declaration”—warning Congress that sweeping reforms under the Trump administration could leave the U.S. vulnerable to catastrophic disasters again (AP News, The Guardian). Of those signatories, 35 publicly signed their names and were placed on paid administrative leave shortly after, while many unsigned colleagues joined anonymously for fear of retaliation (AP News, El País).

What’s in the Letter

The dissent letter strongly criticizes:

Leadership under untrained appointees,
Reassignments of FEMA staff to immigration enforcement,
Deep cuts to disaster preparedness and mitigation programs, and
New bureaucratic oversight measures, such as requiring DHS approval for large expenses (AP News).

These moves, staff warn, undermine the post-Katrina reforms of 2006 and could severely weaken FEMA’s ability to respond to emergencies (AP News).

Official Response

FEMA, defended by the Department of Homeland Security, says the administrative leave is not punitive. A spokesperson stated the goal is to “transform FEMA into a lean, deployable force, not a bloated bureaucracy” (Financial Times, AP News).

Broader Fallout and Warnings

Observers and watchdogs are raising alarm. The General Accountability Office recently noted that FEMA lost thousands of employees earlier in 2025 through buyouts and resignations—erasing institutional knowledge and weakening disaster response capacity during a critical hurricane season (Reuters).

Meanwhile, media reports and editorial voices emphasize FEMA’s importance—not just in disaster relief, but as a symbol of national resilience. Critics argue that dismantling it risks tragic consequences, especially as climate-related disasters intensify (Financial Times, Statesman).

Vocabulary

Administrative leave (noun) – paid time off given while an investigation or review is pending.
Example: “The employees were placed on administrative leave after signing the letter.”
Dissent (noun) – public disagreement or opposition.
Example: “The letter was an act of dissent by FEMA staff.”
Katrina Declaration (noun) – the name given to the open letter warning of repeat failures.
Example: “The Katrina Declaration compared current FEMA cuts to the mistakes of 2005.”
Preparedness (noun) – readiness to deal with emergencies.
Example: “Budget cuts have harmed FEMA’s preparedness efforts.”
Institutional knowledge (noun) – expertise and experience built over time.
Example: “FEMA lost institutional knowledge when many long-time staff departed.”
Mitigation (noun) – actions taken to reduce disaster risks.
Example: “The letter raised concerns about cuts to mitigation programs.”
Deployable (adjective) – ready to be sent into action when needed.
Example: “FEMA wants to become more deployable and less bureaucratic.”
Watchdog (noun) – group that monitors and critiques government activity.
Example: “A government watchdog warned of FEMA’s weakening capacity.”
Retaliation (noun) – punitive actions taken in response to criticism.
Example: “Many employees remained anonymous out of fear of retaliation.”
Resilience (noun) – ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
Example: “FEMA has been a key part of America’s disaster resilience.”

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What key warnings did the FEMA staff express in the Katrina Declaration?
Why were the named signatories placed on administrative leave?
How is FEMA leadership responding to the criticism?
What risks does the GAO report highlight about FEMA’s staffing?
Why do critics say dismantling FEMA could be dangerous during hurricane season?

Discussion Questions (Broader Topic)

How should government agencies balance reform and institutional memory?
Should public sector employees face political pressure when speaking out?
What role should FEMA play in an era of increasing natural disasters?
Can disaster preparedness be centralized or should it shift to states?
How would you ensure FEMA maintains both efficiency and readiness?

Related Idiom

“Tip of the iceberg” – a small, revealing part of a much larger problem.
Example: “This letter may be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to discontent inside FEMA.”

📢 Want more tips like this? 👉 Sign up for the All About English Mastery Newsletter! Click here

Want to finally Master English but don’t have the time? Mastering English for Busy Professionals is the course for you! Check it out now!

Follow our YouTube Channel @All_About_English for more great insights and tips

This article was inspired by AP News, The Guardian, El País, Financial Times, Reuters, and Statesman.