By KIM BELLARD
On the heels of the disastrous floods in Texas, days away from the Hurricane Katrina twenty yr anniversary, and with Hurricane Erin almost becoming another Hurricane Sandy, the devoted staff at FEMA are apprehensive. Very apprehensive. They’ve received a President who repeatedly has called to dismantle the company, a DHS Secretary who’s extra excited by photo ops and slow walking expenditure requests, and an appearing administrator who has no experience in emergency management. Oh, and so they’ve suffered losses of about a third of their workforce.
So a number of the extra outspoken staff have written a letter. That ought to do the trick.
The letter, which they name the FEMA Katrina Declaration, was signed by virtually 2 hundred present and previous staff (though solely three dozen allowed their names to be public). They cost:
Since January 2025, FEMA has been underneath the management of people missing authorized {qualifications}, Senate approval, and the demonstrated background required of a FEMA Administrator. Selections made by FEMA’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator (SOPDA) David Richardson, Former SOPDA Cameron Hamilton, and Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem erode the capability of FEMA and our State, Native, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) companions, hinder the swift execution of our mission, and dismiss skilled workers whose institutional data and relationships are important to make sure efficient emergency administration.
The letter goes on to record “Six Statements of Opposition,” calling to reverse numerous actions the Administration has taken that they consider impairs FEMA’s means to meet its mission. Every appears completely cheap, and none appears prone to end in motion, not less than until/till disasters strike sufficient crimson states to drive motion.
FEMA spokesperson Daniel Llargues was not impressed, responding: “It’s not stunning that a number of the identical bureaucrats who presided over a long time of inefficiency at the moment are objecting to reform. Change is at all times arduous. It’s particularly for these invested in the established order. However our obligation is to survivors, to not defending damaged programs.”
I in all probability wouldn’t have paid a lot consideration to the letter, besides it comes two months after some 90 NIH scientists issued their “Bethesda Declaration” to protest what has been occurring to the NIH to this point within the Trump Administration. Addressed to Director Jay Bhattacharya, it declared:
For employees throughout the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH), we dissent to Administration insurance policies that undermine the NIH mission, waste public sources, and hurt the well being of Individuals and other people throughout the globe. Preserving NIH on the forefront of biomedical analysis requires our stalwart dedication to steady enchancment. However the life-and-death nature of our work calls for that modifications be considerate and vetted. We’re compelled to talk up when our management prioritizes political momentum over human safety and faithful stewardship of public resources.
The Declaration lists 5 classes of cuts the Administration has taken, about which they warn: “Mixed, these actions have resulted in an unprecedented reduction in NIH spending that does not replicate effectivity however moderately a dramatic discount in life-saving analysis.”
Amen to that.
Director Bhattacharya was considerably extra respectful than Mr. Llargues in his response, claiming: “The Bethesda Declaration has some elementary misconceptions concerning the coverage instructions the NIH has taken in current months, together with the persevering with help of the NIH for worldwide collaboration. However, respectful dissent in science is productive. All of us need the NIH to succeed.”
I don’t consider him. This Administration doesn’t acknowledge any dissent as “respectful.”
I’m happy to notice that it isn’t simply staff at FEMA and NIH who’re protesting Administration actions that they consider jeopardize their mission. Staffers at different businesses together with the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and the National Science Foundation have printed related letters.
The EPA letter, for instance, flat out stated: “Below your management, Administrator Zeldin, this administration is recklessly undermining the EPA mission,” happening to record 5 particular examples, and warning: “Your selections and actions will reverberate for generations to come back. EPA underneath your management won’t defend communities from hazardous chemical compounds and unsafe ingesting water, however as an alternative will improve dangers to public well being and security.” Over 600 staffers signed — though all have been nameless.
Equally, 149 NSF staff – virtually all of whom remained nameless – expressed their “deep concern over a collection of politically motived and legally questionable actions by the Administration that threaten the integrity of the NSF and undermine the civil service protections assured underneath federal legislation.” The online outcome, they are saying, “collectively quantity to the systemic dismantling of a world-renowned scientific company” and “would cripple American science.”
And, in response to the August 8th attack on CDC headquarters, over 750 present and former CDC staffers issued a blistering response to Secretary Kennedy, saying: “When a federal well being company is underneath assault, America’s well being is underneath assault. When the federal workforce is just not protected, America is just not protected,” and accusing Secretary Kennedy of being “complicit in dismantling America’s public well being infrastructure and endangering the nation’s well being by repeatedly spreading inaccurate well being data.”
Be aware that a whole lot of CDC staff have been terminated the week after the taking pictures, and, to the very best of my data, President Trump has by no means spoken concerning the taking pictures. Secretary Kennedy issued what has been described as a “tepid” response whereas managing to work in criticism of CDC’s pandemic response. Class man.
Bravo to all of the individuals on the numerous businesses who have been prepared to talk out. Name them bureaucrats, accuse them of being “woke,” strip away the protections that they’ve lengthy relied on, and these courageous public servants nonetheless need to converse out once they see their good work being crippled.
However I’ve to level out that nearly none dared record their identifies, apprehensive about retribution by the Administration and doubtlessly even worse by MAGA supporters. These are the instances we’re dwelling in. And, after all, regardless of numerous authorized actions, many of the Administration’s actions roll on nearly unabated.
Letters, I concern, should not going to do it. This Administration doesn’t care about letters. All of us have to protest, however be aware that President Trump simply issued an Executive Order calling for the Nationwide Guard in every state to have specialised models for “…quelling civil disturbances and guaranteeing the general public security and order at any time when the circumstances necessitate.” That’s you and me, people. That’s what they consider our First Modification rights.
President Trump could deny being a dictator and even desirous to be a dictator, as he did today, but when somebody talks like a dictator and acts like a dictator, consider them. That’s a dictator.
So maintain these letters and people lawsuits coming, however they’re not going to be sufficient. A lot of us have to talk up, rise up – and vote.
Kim is a former emarketing exec at a serious Blues plan, editor of the late & lamented Tincture.io, and now common THCB contributor
