Veteran burns American flag in front of White House on day of controversial Trump executive order
A U.S. military veteran was filmed burning an American flag outside the White House on the same day that President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking new consequences for doing so. Trump signed the order on Monday, directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute violations of laws involving flag desecration and to pursue litigation that would clarify the scope of the First Amendment as it relates to flag desecration. The order additionally directs Bondi to refer flag desecration cases that violate state and local laws to appropriate local authorities. Footage from outside the White House on the same day shows a man who identified himself as a veteran speaking through a megaphone while burning the flag. “I am a 20-year veteran of the United States Army,” the man says as the flag burns at his feet. “It is our First Amendment right to burn this flag, regardless of what the president says.” TRUMP FLAG BURNING EXECUTIVE ORDER COULD FLIP FIRST AMENDMENT ON ITS HEAD WITH NEW COURT At one point in the video, another man approaches the veteran, but it is unclear what he says. The veteran responds by repeatedly telling him to “get away from me.” Trump’s order followed months of protesters burning American flags at various anti-Israel and anti-ICE demonstrations. VETERANS DISGUSTED BY ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS, FLAG-BURNING: ‘DISGRACE’ TO AMERICA Trump has nevertheless faced pushback from the right on social media after signing the order, with conservatives largely defending flag-burning as a First Amendment right. “I would never in a million years harm the American flag. But a president telling me I can’t has me as close as I’ll ever be to lighting one on fire. I am a free American citizen. And if I ever feel like torching one, I will. This is garbage,” conservative radio host Jesse Kelly wrote on X. “Flag burning is vile but the government has no right to control speech or expression,” radio host Dana Loesch wrote. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Supreme Court ruled in the 1989 case Texas v. Johnson that burning the American flag is a form of symbolic speech that is protected by the First Amendment. Trump’s executive order, which directs the attorney general to “pursue litigation to clarify the scope of the First Amendment exceptions” in the realm of flag burning, signals there will likely be upcoming litigation challenging the 1989 ruling. Fox News’ Lindsey Kornick contributed to this report
Trump-trolling Gov Gavin Newsom suggests ‘coin’ is coming to online store: ‘Trump corruption coin’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump who has been trolling the president through mocking mimicry online, indicated during remarks on Wednesday that he is poised to release a “coin” on his online shop that features Trump-trolling merchandise. Trump has previously promoted a Trump cryptocurrency meme coin, and Newsom made the comment after recalling talking to Trump “about his crypto grift.” “I think we’ll add a coin,” he said adding, perhaps a “Trump corruption coin or something.” NEWSOM SAYS GOP LEADER ‘DOES NOT DESERVE TO HOLD OFFICE’ AFTER PROPOSING CA SPLIT IN TWO OVER REDISTRICTING Newsom has promoted Trump-trolling merchandise for sale in an online store. “THE PATRIOT SHOP IS NOW OPEN!!!!” he recently wrote on his personal X account. “MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS THE GREATEST MERCHANDISE EVER MADE. PLEASE ENJOY, AMERICA!” TEXAS CHALLENGES NEWSOM’S GAS CAR CRACKDOWN, WARNING CALIFORNIA CAN’T DICTATE US AUTO MARKET One of the items for sale at the shop is a red MAGA-style cap that reads, “NEWSOM WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!” The governor has also been leveraging his gubernatorial press office account to troll the president with Trump-style tweets. NEWSOM SIGNS CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING BILLS, COUNTERING TRUMP-BACKED PUSH IN TEXAS For example, one of the posts declared, “EXCEPT WHAT IS WRITTEN AND BROADCAST IN THE FAKE NEWS, I NOW HAVE THE HIGHEST POLL NUMBERS I’VE EVER HAD, SOME IN THE 60’S AND EVEN 70’S. THANK YOU. MAKE AMERICA GAVIN AGAIN!!! — GCN”
Trump admin plans to impose 4-year limits for foreign students studying in US
The Trump administration on Wednesday announced a proposed rule to limit the length of time international students can remain in the U.S. for their studies to four years. If finalized, the proposed rule set to be published on Thursday would limit how long certain visa holders, including foreign students, are allowed to stay in the U.S., according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, which said the proposal seeks to curb “visa abuse” and increase the agency’s ability to “properly vet and oversee these individuals.” The agency said foreign students have “taken advantage of U.S. generosity” and become “forever students” by remaining enrolled in colleges so they could stay in the U.S. RUBIO’S STATE DEPARTMENT YANKS MORE THAN 6K STUDENT VISAS DUE TO ASSAULT, BURGLARY, SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM “For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. “This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S., easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history,” the spokesperson continued. Since 1978, foreign students, or F visa holders, have been allowed to remain in the U.S. for their “duration of status,” which means the time they were enrolled as a full-time student. The proposed rule would allow foreign students and exchange visitors to stay in the country up to the duration of the program they are participating in, although the federal government would not permit it to exceed four years, which is typically less time than it takes to pursue any additional education beyond a bachelor’s degree. HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALL ON RUBIO TO ALLOW INJURED CHILDREN FROM GAZA INTO US FOLLOWING VISA HALT In addition to students, the proposed rule would set the initial admission period for foreign journalists at up to 240 days, although they may seek an extension of up to another 240 days, but no longer than the length of their assignment. Requiring regular assessments by DHS for foreigners to remain in the U.S. for a longer period would allow the agency to conduct “proper oversight” and reduce the number of people in the country on visas, the press release said. Foreign students, notably, typically pay more tuition and receive fewer scholarship opportunities, meaning the proposed rule may have a financial impact on U.S. colleges if it leads to a dip in international enrollment. “It will certainly act as an additional deterrent to international students choosing to study in the United States, to the detriment of American economies, innovation, and global competitiveness,” Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said in a statement to POLITICO.
Pritzker says ‘action will be met with a response’ after Trump threatens to send National Guard to Chicago
Illinois’ Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said the state “will not stand idly by” if President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago to respond to crime in the Windy City. “Unlike Donald Trump, we keep our promises,” the governor wrote Wednesday on X. “We will not stand idly by if he decides to send the National Guard to intimidate Chicagoans.” “Action will be met with a response,” he continued. Pritzker’s comments are just the latest in his recent feud with Trump, as the federal government weighs whether to send troops to Chicago. TRUMP SAYS ‘INCOMPETENT’ ILLINOIS GOVERNOR, ‘NO BETTER’ CHICAGO MAYOR SHOULD CALL HIM FOR HELP WITH CRIME Last week, the governor said there is no crime emergency in Chicago and Trump is “attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families.” “The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority,” Pritzker said on Saturday. “There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders. We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois.” On Monday, Pritzker said the potential federal deployment is “unconstitutional” and “un-American.” “Donald Trump wants to use the military to occupy a U.S. city, punish its dissidents and score political points,” he said. “If this were happening in any other country, we would have no trouble calling it what it is — a dangerous power grab.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, also a Democrat, has cited data showing that violent crime has declined in the last year, including homicides and robberies dipping by more than 30%, and shootings dropping by nearly 40%. Although, crime is still up compared to 2021, according to statistics posted by Chicago police. GOV. PRITZKER SAYS TRUMP TRYING TO ‘MANUFACTURE A CRISIS’ AS ADMIN PLANS NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO CHICAGO “The problem with the President’s approach is that it is uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound,” Johnson said on Friday. “Unlawfully deploying the National Guard to Chicago has the potential to inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement when we know that trust between police and residents is foundational to building safer communities.” “When we fight back against tyranny, the people united will always prevail,” the mayor later said. Other Illinois leaders have also made criticisms of the potential move to send troops to Chicago. Trump responded to Pritzker and Johnson on Tuesday, writing in a social media post that the governor is “incompetent” and the mayor is “no better.” “A really DEADLY weekend in Chicago,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “6 DEAD, 27 HURT IN CRIME SPREES ALLOVER THE CITY. Panic stricken Governor Pritzker says that crime is under control, when in fact it is just the opposite. He is an incompetent Governor who should call me for HELP. Mayor Johnson is no better. Make Chicago Great Again!” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This comes after Trump’s move to boost the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to reduce crime. Hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops have been deployed to the streets of D.C. as part of the federal takeover of the district.
CDC Director Susan Monarez refuses to be fired as other officials call it quits
Longtime government scientist Susan Monarez is refusing to leave her position as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced she had been removed from the role less than a month after she was sworn in. Attorneys Mark Zaid and Abbe Lowell said they are representing Monarez and claimed she “has neither resigned nor yet been fired.” The attorneys released a statement on social media, claiming HHS and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are weaponizing public health for political gain and putting millions of American lives at risk. “When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda,” the statement said. “For that, she has been targeted. Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired, and as a person of integrity and devoted to science, she will not resign.” ABOUT 600 CDC WORKERS TERMINATED AFTER COURT CLEARS PART OF TRUMP ADMIN RESTRUCTURING PLAN The Washington Post reported that sources within the CDC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said HHS leaders, including Kennedy, sought to get Monarez to commit to rescinding approvals for certain COVID-19 vaccines. When Monarez did not immediately commit, she was told by administration officials that she must resign or she would be fired. Sources also claimed she then attempted to involve the chairman of the Senate’s top health committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. The move reportedly further angered Kennedy. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the HHS directed Fox News Digital to the agency’s response shared on its official X account. “Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” HHS said. “We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. Secretary Kennedy has full confidence in his team at the CDC who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious diseases at home and abroad.” The White House confirmed to Fox News Digital that Monarez was being removed. “As her attorney’s statement makes abundantly clear, Susan Monarez is not aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. “Since Susan Monarez refused to resign despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so, the White House has terminated Monarez from her position with the CDC.” Monarez was tapped by the Trump administration to lead the CDC after its initial nominee, Dave Weldon, withdrew from contention in March amid fears he might not garner enough support in the Senate to be confirmed. Shortly after Weldon stepped down, Monarez was formally nominated to be the CDC’s permanent director and was eventually confirmed in the final week of July. During Monarez’s confirmation hearing, she expressed support for vaccines and told lawmakers she has “not seen a causal link between vaccines and autism.” MEDICAL GROUP GOES AGAINST CDC, RECOMMENDS COVID SHOTS FOR YOUNG KIDS Prior to Monarez’s Senate confirmation, CDC directors did not typically require Senate approval, but that changed in 2022 when Congress passed a law making it necessary. Monarez was the first-ever Senate-confirmed CDC director in the agency’s history. Monarez was also the first CDC director without a medical degree in more than seven decades. However, she does hold a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology. After getting her doctorate, Monarez entered the federal government, where she found herself in roles at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Security Council, the Department of Homeland Security and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Her biography on the CDC’s website says she worked on “leading efforts to enhance the nation’s biomedical innovation capabilities, including combating antimicrobial resistance, expanding the use of wearables to promote patient health, ensuring personal health data privacy, and improving pandemic preparedness.” Hours after the news that Monarez would no longer head the CDC, sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that at least three other top CDC officials tendered their resignations, including the CDC’s director of its National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Demetre Daskalakis; the director of the National Centers for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Dr. Daniel Jernigan; and the CDC’s chief medical officer, Debra Houry. Daskalakis posted his lengthy resignation letter on X, citing various reasons for his departure, including “the views” of Secretary Kennedy and his staff. Daskalakis said he could not continue to work in an administration that treats the CDC “as a tool” to establish policies that “do not reflect scientific reality.” He specifically cited recent changes Kennedy’s HHS has brought to vaccine scheduling for children and adults, arguing it “threaten[s] the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people.” The former CDC director also cited the administration’s efforts to “erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research.”
Bill Gates met with Trump to talk ‘importance of US global health programs and health research’: spox
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates went to the White House on Tuesday for a meeting with the president, according to a Gates spokesperson. In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, the spokesperson noted, “Bill met with the president to discuss the importance of U.S. global health programs and health research that is necessary to save lives, protect Americans’ health, and preserve U.S. leadership in the world.” BILL GATES REVEALS ‘NEXT PHASE OF ALZHEIMER’S FIGHT’ AS HE SHARES DAD’S PERSONAL BATTLE Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Wednesday. Prior to the president’s inauguration for his second term, Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker asked the mega-wealthy figure whether he had met with Trump since Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential contest. BILL GATES REVEALS HOW MUCH INHERITANCE HE’LL LEAVE FOR KIDS Gates said that they had a “quite intriguing dinner,” noting that it lasted more than three hours. BILL GATES: ‘FOOLISH’ TO SPEND TIME WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN An individual who Gates explained “helps manage things for me” was also present, as well as Susie Wiles, Gates added.
Susan Collins heckled at Maine ribbon-cutting to delight of leftist challenger as pivotal Senate race heats up
Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, faced repeated heckling from protesters on Tuesday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of a $9.2 million federally-funded Route 1 reconstruction project. Collins’ remarks on securing federal money for the project were repeatedly drowned out, showing both her challenges on the home front and the broader fight for Senate control. Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has cast the Route 1 project as a major win for Maine communities. Protesters, however, shouted her down with chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” while raising grievances over Medicare, Israel policy and her voting history for Trump-supported bills. ‘MAINE’S MAMDANI’: MAINE GOP CHIEF ISSUES WARNING ABOUT NEW CHALLENGER LOOKING TO OUST SUSAN COLLINS Her Democrat challenger, Graham Platner, quickly seized on the moment, sharing a close-up video of the heckling on X that has nearly 4k likes. With the Senate hanging by a razor-thin margin, Maine’s race has emerged as one of the most closely watched in the country. Democrats see Collins’ seat as a potential pathway back to control, while Republicans, led by President Trump, are fighting to defend their fragile majority. “I’m so disgusted with the cuts the Republican Party has made to this big ugly bill…. Get outta here!” shouted one protester, referencing the “One, Big Beautiful Bill.” At one point during the ceremony, Collins attempted to reason with the demonstrators. “Could you please just listen, for just one—” she began, before being cut off by a protester shouting, “We’d like you to listen!” VETERAN WHO SERVED IN MIDDLE EASTERN WARS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEN. SUSAN COLLINS “I have a suggestion. Would you listen to the suggestion?” asked Collins before another protester responded, “Vote Graham Platner!” Graham Platner is a Democrat candidate seeking to challenge the longtime incumbent moderate Republican, who is facing a spirited reelection battle in an increasingly blue state. Platner, a Marine and Army veteran turned oyster farmer, frames his candidacy as a fight against what he calls the “billionaire economy.” While his biography as a working-class veteran could resonate in a state with many independents, his policy platform leans hard to the left. He has called for banning billionaires from financing elections, raising the federal minimum wage, establishing postal banking and defending abortion. He supports aggressive climate regulations, breaking up corporations he labels monopolies and ending what he terms “the mass deportation machine.” Platner has also demanded cuts to Pentagon spending, vowed to “stop pointless wars,” and backs expanding union powers. Those stances put him squarely in the progressive camp and open him to criticism that he is out of step with Maine’s moderates despite his veteran credentials. Maine Republicans, meanwhile, were quick to paint Platner as out of step with the state. “Graham is a far-left progressive backed by national progressive operatives and environmental extremists. His views would be perfectly suited for a Portland City Council race – not for representing all of Maine,” Jason Savage, the executive director of the Maine Republican Party, told Fox News Digital. A Collins spokesperson likewise dismissed him as “just another progressive entering the race.” Platner has also brought on Joe Cavello, a former senior aide to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as part of his campaign team, and tapped Democratic strategist Morris Katz, an advisor to New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, to produce his launch video. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP With Republicans clinging to their slim Senate majority, Collins’ reelection fight could help determine whether Trump’s influence continues to shape the legislative agenda or whether Democrats reclaim the upper hand. Maine’s Senate primary is scheduled for June 9, 2026, with the general election set for Nov. 3, 2026. Sen. Collins and Platner did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Pilar Arias contributed to this report.
Trump administration resurrects ‘neighborhood checks’ for citizenship applicants last used in first Bush-era
The Trump administration is restoring an immigration policy that was last used under former President George H.W. Bush’s tenure to conduct neighborhood investigations related to immigrants applying for U.S. naturalization, according to a policy memo released Tuesday by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is resuming personal investigations of aliens applying for naturalization in accordance with section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act,” the memo, dated Aug. 22 but released publicly Tuesday, states. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act abolished immigration quotas and championed welcoming “those who can contribute most to this country — to its growth, to its strength, to its spirit,” according to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s remarks at the time of him signing the act into law. The administration’s revitalization of personal investigations, also called “neighborhood checks,” will include U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requesting information from immigrants seeking naturalization, such as “testimonial letters from neighbors, employers, co-workers, and business associates who know the alien and can provide substantiated information about the alien, including any of the requirements for naturalization.” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is an office under the Department of Homeland Security‘s umbrella that oversees the nation’s legal immigration processing. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO VET LEGAL IMMIGRANT APPLICANTS FOR ‘ANTI-AMERICANISM’ AND ANTISEMITISM The memorandum stated that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services “generally waives the requirements for neighborhood investigations” under the 1965 law and historically had relied instead on FBI background checks to determine an “applicant’s good moral character and eligibility for naturalization.” The personal investigations will now include interviewing a naturalization applicant’s neighbors and employment history stretching back at least five years before an individual applied for naturalization, according to the memo. The checks are to ensure “scrutiny of an alien’s residency, good moral character, attachment to the U.S. Constitution, and disposition to the good order and happiness of the United States.” TRUMP ADMIN TO WEIGH US CITIZENSHIP APPLICANTS’ ‘POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS,’ GOOD MORAL CHARACTER Such investigations were last conducted in 1991 during the first Bush’s tenure, according to the memo. Similar investigations were carried out on immigrants applying for naturalization as far back as 1802, the memo added. “From 1802 to 1981, petitioners for naturalization were required to present two witnesses who could testify to their qualifications for citizenship,” the memo stated. “In 1981, Congress eliminated the requirement for witnesses, a change justified in part by the fact that a petitioner’s character could be better determined by an investigation, including a neighborhood investigation, if necessary. “However, by 1991, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service had essentially stopped conducting neighborhood investigations.” TOP DHS OFFICIAL CALLS CITIZENSHIP TEST ‘TOO SOFT,’ URGES MAJOR OVERHAUL OF NATURALIZATION PROCESS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services celebrated the return of the personal investigations. Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in comments provided to Fox News Digital Wednesday that the office “is working to ensure that only the most qualified applicants receive American citizenship.” “The Immigration and Nationality Act directs USCIS to conduct personal investigations, and incorporating neighborhood investigations will help enhance these statutorily required investigations to ensure that we are meeting congressional intent,” he continued. “Americans should be comforted knowing that USCIS is taking seriously its responsibility to ensure aliens are being properly vetted and are of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.” The move is the latest of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration that spiraled under the Biden administration. Democrats increasingly have spoken out against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, slamming its mass deportation efforts while ramping up visits to detention centers to draw attention to the facilities, The Associated Press reported. “Transparency matters. Oversight matters. Accountability matters,” Colorado Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse said in August after visiting a Colorado detention center. “You certainly can expect to see the Democratic members of Colorado’s House delegation continue to lean in on all fronts.”
Fox News Politics Newsletter: DC Crime Crackdown
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Federal judge blocks Abrego Garcia deportation through October, extending court fight –Dem lawmakers call for gun control after Minneapolis school shooting -House Republicans ready slew of DC crime bills as Trump promises end to street violence President Donald Trump and his allies in Congress are working to solidify his grip on Washington, D.C. A leadership aide told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that House Republicans are working with the White House on a package of bills “to fix the many problems with D.C. governance and crime.” Trump all but confirmed the effort in a late-night Truth Social post at midnight on Wednesday stating that House and Senate leaders “are working with me, and other Republicans, on a Comprehensive Crime Bill.”…Read more CENTRAL BANK SHAKEUP: Cook’s potential exit hands Trump greater sway over Fed Board shaping US monetary policy ‘RALLY’: Trump’s cartel crackdown gains ‘powerful political leverage’ with El Mayo guilty plea WITCH HUNT: Jack Smith’s lawyers blast Hatch Act probe as ‘imaginary and unfounded’ GOLDEN DIVORCE: “2 state solution” — CA Republicans announce plan to split state to blunt redistricting ASYLUM AT THE PLANT: Chicago Teamsters, backed by mayor, want ICE blocked without warrants in strike fight SUPPORT LIMBO: Socialist candidate Mamdani meets with NY Dems as they withhold endorsements TRAGEDY STRIKES: DNC adjourns Minneapolis meeting as breaking news of deadly school shooting unfolds minutes away SAGA CONTINUES: Abrego Garcia renews push for asylum in US, reveals new country willing to accept him CASH CRISIS: Kamala Harris fundraising events have been a flop to help raise money for DNC: Report Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
FEMA employees placed on leave after claiming Trump leadership could spark next Hurricane Katrina
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees who signed an open letter slamming the Trump administration’s leadership of the office have been placed on leave, with FEMA leadership subsequently slamming the “bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency” for “objecting to reform.” More than 190 current and former FEMA employees signed an open letter Monday criticizing the Trump administration, criticizing leaders they say lack the qualifications to oversee an agency focused on the nation’s preparation and response to disasters. The letter claimed a catastrophe on par with Hurricane Katrina could unfold due to the current climate of the office. By Wednesday morning, more than a dozen FEMA employees who signed the letter were placed on leave, The Washington Post reported. “It is not surprising that some of the same bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency are now objecting to reform,” a FEMA spokesperson told Fox News Digital when asked about the letter and employees who were placed on leave. “Change is always hard. It is especially for those invested in the status quo, who have forgotten that their duty is to the American people, not entrenched bureaucracy.” KENTUCKY GOVERNOR PRAISES FEMA UNDER TRUMP, SAYS ITS A ‘CREDIT TO HIS ADMINISTRATION’ The spokesperson did not reveal how many FEMA employees were placed on leave after the letter’s publication. “Under the Biden administration, the American people were abandoned as disasters ravaged North Carolina and needed aid was denied based on party affiliation in Florida,” the spokesperson continued. “Our obligation is to survivors, not to protecting broken systems. Under the leadership of Secretary Noem, FEMA will return to its mission of assisting Americans at their most vulnerable.” The nonprofit Stand Up for Science published the open letter Monday, directed to Congress, claiming FEMA is led by individuals who lack the “legal qualifications, Senate approval, and the demonstrated background” to oversee federal disaster preparation and response. The letter took direct aim at FEMA and Department of Homeland Security leaders such as Secretary Kristi Noem. “Decisions made by FEMA’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator (SOPDA) David Richardson, Former SOPDA Cameron Hamilton, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem erode the capacity of FEMA and our State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) partners, hinder the swift execution of our mission, and dismiss experienced staff whose institutional knowledge and relationships are vital to ensure effective emergency management,” the letter claimed. SENATOR PETER WELCH: I’M A DEMOCRAT AND WE NEED TO FIX FEMA WITH LOCAL CONTROL Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was one of the worst disasters to hit the United States in recent history, leading to 1,833 fatalities, more than $100 billion in damages and thousands of homeless New Orleanians, data from the National Weather Service shows. The letter claimed that such a disaster could rock the U.S. again due to the current state of the agency. “Hurricane Katrina was not just a natural disaster, but a man-made one: the inexperience of senior leaders and the profound failure by the federal government to deliver timely, unified, and effective aid to those in need left survivors to fend for themselves for days, and highlighted how Black, Indigenous, and low-income communities are disproportionally affected by disasters,” the letter states. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S TEXAS FLOOD DISASTER RESPONSE ‘FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT’ FROM BIDEN’S APPROACH: NOEM “These failures prompted Congress to pass the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA), which introduced safeguards to ensure such shortcomings of disaster preparation and response would not be repeated,” it continued. “However, two decades later, FEMA is enacting processes and leadership structures that echo the conditions PKEMRA was designed to prevent.” President Donald Trump and Noem have both expressed dissatisfaction with FEMA since taking their respective offices. Trump warned just days after his inauguration that the agency would face a reckoning over its failures to respond to the devastating floods that rocked North Carolina when Hurricane Helene ripped through the southeastern U.S. in September 2024. NOEM SAYS CRITICISM OF FEDERAL RESPONSE TO TEXAS FLOODING IS ‘ALL POLITICS’: ‘DISSERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY’ “Get rid of FEMA the way it exists today,” Noem said in February on CNN when asked what she would advise Trump if he asked her to do away with the agency. Both Noem and Trump have advocated for local officials — such as county emergency management directors, mayors, city council members and commissioners — to lead disaster preparation and response as opposed to federal leadership. The letter published Monday included the full names of at least 35 former and current FEMA employees, while the majority were “unlisted” signatures. Signatories took issue with six initiatives under the Trump administration specifically, including “reduction in capability of FEMA to perform its missions,” the “failure to appoint a qualified FEMA administrator,” the “reduction of FEMA’s disaster workforce” and “the censorship of climate science, environmental protection, and efforts to ensure all communities have access to information, resources.” FEMA is led by David Richardson, who replaced former acting FEMA chief Cameron Hamilton in May after Hamilton’s departure from the agency just days after telling members of Congress that he does not believe FEMA should be eliminated.