WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reinstated over a dozen employees who were put on leave in August last year following their signing of a public letter dissenting against the agency’s leadership and policies.
Confirmation of the reinstatement came on Thursday from a U.S. lawmaker and a non-profit group that published the letter on its website.
The non-profit group Stand Up for Science stated that “all signers who are placed on administrative leave have been given the return to work order.” FEMA’s previous actions, as part of the Department of Homeland Security, sparked concerns about President Donald Trump’s administration’s intolerance for dissent, particularly as Trump appointed loyalists to key agency roles since taking office in early 2025.
Democratic U.S. Senator Andy Kim, who advocated for the workers’ reinstatement, shared that he presented his case to the new DHS chief. NBC News initially reported the reinstatement, citing a DHS email exchange with the senator. Media outlets also spoke with some of the reinstated employees, with one expressing feeling “vindicated.”
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
In an open letter to Congress last year, dozens of current and former FEMA staff expressed concerns that the lack of experience among Trump administration appointees could lead to a disaster akin to Hurricane Katrina.
The letter criticized the policies and actions of former DHS chief Kristi Noem.
FEMA has faced significant staff reductions since Trump assumed office. Trump dismissed Noem in early March and appointed Markwayne Mullin as the new DHS chief.
A FEMA spokesperson commented that the agency is “addressing outstanding personnel actions to ensure workforce stability.”
“As we approach the 2026 hurricane season and the FIFA World Cup, FEMA is taking targeted steps to stabilize our workforce and strengthen readiness,” the spokesperson conveyed to U.S. media.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates)
