A top FEMA agent is among numerous federal employees subjected to a lie detector test over alleged leaks of DHS plans, reports CNN. The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly administered polygraph tests to about 50 staffers, including a FEMA administrator and several officials from the disaster relief agency, in an effort to halt the spill of sensitive information.
Insiders revealed to the news outlet that at least one official has been suspended and escorted out of the office this week post-polygraph.
“We are agnostic about your standing, tenure, political appointment, or status as a career civil servant,” stated DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin in an email to the broadcaster. “We will track down leakers and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” she continued.
The probe into FEMA staff has sparked worries that lie detector tests might target federal workers for leaking non-classified info to the press, especially in an agency where classified data is said to be rarely handled.
Whistleblower groups have expressed their concerns that employing polygraph tests could be unusual, concerning, and possibly unlawful. These investigations come as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is reported to have pledged to “eliminate FEMA” with the hurricane season on the horizon.
It has also been reported that representatives from FEMA and Homeland Security convened last month to discuss the future of the disaster relief agency, including options for its dissolution. The meeting included Noem, FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton, and Donald Trump’s long-term ally Corey Lewandowski, where they considered revoking the executive order that established a FEMA Review Council, reports The Mirror US.
Sources suggest that if the order is rescinded, it would pave the way for the swift dismantling of the agency. This order is the latest in a series of actions and attacks that have hindered FEMA’s operations, raising concerns about its capacity to respond to the hurricane season.
“March is typically when we’re finalising hurricane plans. A lot of that got paused,” a FEMA official directly involved in disaster response revealed. “So, it’s already having an impact, which is that we’re not preparing.”
It was also previously reported that FEMA employees received an email titled “Hiring Update,” detailing changes to the hiring process. The majority of the agency’s workers would need direct approval from Secretary Noem’s team for their contracts to be renewed.
It was noted that many of the workers currently hold 2- to 4-year terms.
A leaked memo also went on to reveal that the roles under review include most of the public-facing positions that assist communities during disaster response and recovery. These roles encompass a wide range of responsibilities, such as verifying disaster damage, operating recovery centres and helping victims register for aid.
“It’s practically everybody that goes out in the field,” a FEMA official disclosed. “They are the backbone of the response, particularly in sustaining operations.”
The majority affected include the Cadre of On-Call Response Employees (CORE), Reservists, Local Hires, and Temporary Full-time Employees.
A report from the Government Accountability Office stated that CORE and Reservist employees constitute approximately 74% of FEMA’s workforce.
“I think their terms will be allowed to expire, and they won’t be renewed,” another FEMA official informed CNN. “I don’t know that it will really be felt until something big and bad happens. And I think the really scary thing is that states are now afraid to complain, because they’re afraid of what the fallout will be.”
A worker expressed concern that instead of preparing for hurricane season, they’ve been consumed with checking renewal dates and justifying their positions: “It’s now a fear of, what else?” the official lamented. “Are we able to get back to work and focus? Our feeling is, no, there will be something else that will pop up that’s going to require a lot of our attention.”
