Alarm grows inside FEMA as administrator Brock Long fights for his job

[riversedge]

Source: washpost


FEMA chief: 'Doing something unethical is not part of my DNA'

FEMA chief Brock Long responded on Sept. 13 to reports of the inspector general's investigation of whether he used government vehicles for personal use. (Reuters)

September 15 at 2:44 PM

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency heads into peak hurricane season, an internal investigation has imperiled its top official, sparking a growing backlash within the agency where career officials and even some political appointees are worried there is no proven disaster manager on hand to replace him.

FEMA Administrator William “Brock” Long is said to be resisting an effort by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to replace him over his alleged misuse of government vehicles. The feud among senior Trump administration officials surfaced publicly in recent days as FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security raced to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Florence.


The prospect of Long’s dismissal has alarmed current and former staff at FEMA and DHS, and it has captured the attention of officials on Capitol Hill, who note that the agency’s No. 2 position has been vacant for nearly two years and that Trump’s current nominee, Peter Gaynor, still awaits Senate confirmation. Trump’s original nominee for the post, Daniel Craig, withdrew from consideration a year ago after reports surfaced that the DHS inspector general found he had falsified work and travel records while working for the George W. Bush administration.

FEMA’s third in command, Daniel Kaniewski, could take over, at least on an interim basis, if Long were to leave. But his background in policy and academia ­— and his lack of hands-on emergency management experience ­— has generated concern that an internal shake-up would unsettle the agency at the worst possible time.

This account of the power struggle and internal strife at FEMA and DHS is based on interviews with 14 current and former government officials and congressional aides. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer their candid assessment of the matter.

“Who in their right mind thought this was a good idea to try to take out the FEMA administrator in the middle of a storm?” said one former top FEMA official, angry that the infighting spilled into public view with millions of Americans under threat from Florence. “Even if that’s your objective, save it for after the hurricane.”...................................................

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/alarm-grows-inside-fema-as-administrator-brock-long-fights-for-his-job/2018/09/15/995fb280-b854-11e8-94eb-3bd52dfe917b_story.html?utm_term=.74f0de5f9a41

[7962]

1. "Only the BEST people", remember? Man, the WORST people must really be something!!

BEST people my ass

Maybe Mattis gets a pass but he's about the only one

[riversedge]

3. Seems Nielsen wants another person to be in charge.. Kaniewski.........

.............Long has told colleagues he has no intention of stepping down and remains focused on coordinating FEMA’s response to Florence, which has killed at least five and triggered widespread flooding in the Carolinas. At a briefing Thursday, Long denied doing anything improper, saying that’s “not part of my DNA.”

DHS and White House officials, including Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, have discussed replacing Long but decided to wait until Florence passes and the inspector general’s team completes its investigation, the senior administration official said. They acknowledge Long is highly competent and that the allegations against him present a dilemma.

In a statement, deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley said: “We are aware of the allegations and will review the IG Report when it is complete. However, right now the Administration is working nonstop to prepare and implement a massive federal government support effort for those impacted by hurricane Florence.”

DHS officials have said that Nielsen denies asking Long to leave and that she is “confident in the leadership at FEMA and their proven disaster management ability.”

Long has kept a low profile since news of the probe was disclosed to the media, last speaking with Trump by phone on Friday, FEMA Associate Administrator Jeff Byard told reporters during a media briefing Saturday. Asked if Long would remain in the job, Byard said: “Our administrator’s our administrator. He’s given our team very clear guidance that the focus is Florence.”

Nielsen’s alleged desire to remove Long dates back months, according to people familiar with the matter who believe the inspector general’s investigation of Long is part of Nielsen’s effort to make a change at FEMA. She and Kaniewski are close friends and onetime housemates, according to three current and former colleagues.........................

[democratisphere]

2. Everyday it is another chaotic sh't show complete with undermining and

screwing up the works!

[EleanorR]

4. Nielsen was front and center during Katrina

We can't even pretend she gives a shit.

On Aug 27, 2005, two days before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, officials at the American Red Cross wrote to a top homeland security adviser at the White House, warning that the storm was likely to slam New Orleans as a major hurricane.

The message was sent to Kirstjen Nielsen, whose title was special assistant to the president for prevention, preparedness and response. She was 33 years old.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trumps-pick-for-dhs-chief-was-at-center-of-katrina-disaster/2017/10/14/1a8f12a2-b067-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html?utm_term=.6e06a7c88d0e

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Good catch! . . . nt

[yardwork]

7. I didn't know that. So Nielsen has a history of ignoring hurricanes.

[jmowreader]

6. Such a Trumpian act

“Mr. President, the FEMA Administrator is as crooked as the rest of your minions. When do you want to fire him?”

“Wait till the next disaster comes up, then call him a holdover from the Obama Administration.”

[KY_EnviroGuy]

9. Also allows them to blame any Florence FEMA failures on the guy that's gone. n/t

.........

[Snoopy 7]

8. reality sucks

We have all come to realize that in the trump administration "reality sucks". So when Brock Long told the truth about the over 3,ooo deaths in Puerto Rico (US territory) this administration decided he MUST GO. So then they will replace him with a trump follower...

[Pisces]

10. This in addition to Trump taking over the National FEMA Emergency cell phone message system and

It is really starting to look like a dystopian novel. Removing people who stand in his way of doing something unethical like sending false information out to all Americans to terrify us. THis is more and more like Handmaidens every day. In The NY Times yesterday, Erdogan used this same system to send out texts across Turkey urging loyalty.

I saw an interview with Michael Moore about his new movie and he said Trump would create a terrorist situation out of something and become more autocratic in the name of protecting us.
We are in crazy times. I'm worried he will do something before the midterms. Democracy is fragile and we are living in a fools paradise if we think it can't change.