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FEMA Administrator Must Reimburse U.S. for Misuse of Agency Vehicles FEMA Chief Brock Long Must Reimburse U.S. for Misuse of Agency Vehicles
(about 11 hours later)
Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will have to reimburse the government for misusing government vehicles by traveling to and from his home — but will keep his job, officials said Friday. Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will have to reimburse the government for misusing government vehicles by traveling to and from his home — but will keep his job, officials said on Friday.
Mr. Long, a hurricane expert with years of emergency management experience, had come under scrutiny in connection to his frequent commutes between the agency’s headquarters, in Washington, and Hickory, N.C., where his wife and two sons live.Mr. Long, a hurricane expert with years of emergency management experience, had come under scrutiny in connection to his frequent commutes between the agency’s headquarters, in Washington, and Hickory, N.C., where his wife and two sons live.
He faced investigations by the inspector general at the Department of Homeland Security, which includes FEMA, as well as by House Republicans, at a time when his agency was grappling with Hurricane Florence’s drubbing descent on the Carolina coast.He faced investigations by the inspector general at the Department of Homeland Security, which includes FEMA, as well as by House Republicans, at a time when his agency was grappling with Hurricane Florence’s drubbing descent on the Carolina coast.
The inspector general’s report found that Mr. Long had used government vehicles on trips between his home and work “without proper authorization,” Kirstjen Nielsen, the homeland security secretary, said in a statement on Friday.The inspector general’s report found that Mr. Long had used government vehicles on trips between his home and work “without proper authorization,” Kirstjen Nielsen, the homeland security secretary, said in a statement on Friday.
She said that FEMA administrators have long “been transported in and had access to” government vehicles that are meant to “ensure senior leader connectivity in times of crisis.” But she said using the vehicles to get to and from work was not authorized.She said that FEMA administrators have long “been transported in and had access to” government vehicles that are meant to “ensure senior leader connectivity in times of crisis.” But she said using the vehicles to get to and from work was not authorized.
“In April of this year, FEMA corrected the longstanding practice and eliminated unauthorized home-to-work transportation,” she said.“In April of this year, FEMA corrected the longstanding practice and eliminated unauthorized home-to-work transportation,” she said.
Ms. Nielsen said she had taken action to correct problems identified in the report and had a “productive conversation” with Mr. Long.Ms. Nielsen said she had taken action to correct problems identified in the report and had a “productive conversation” with Mr. Long.
Mr. Long, who has been the FEMA administrator since last year, had denied that he knowingly violated agency rules.Mr. Long, who has been the FEMA administrator since last year, had denied that he knowingly violated agency rules.
In his statement on Friday, he acknowledged mistakes and said he was working with Ms. Nielsen to make sure similar issues did not happen again. “As the leader of this agency, I accept full responsibility for any mistakes that were made by me or the agency,” he said.In his statement on Friday, he acknowledged mistakes and said he was working with Ms. Nielsen to make sure similar issues did not happen again. “As the leader of this agency, I accept full responsibility for any mistakes that were made by me or the agency,” he said.
A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions late Friday about how much Mr. Long had been instructed to repay and whether he faced any other consequences.A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions late Friday about how much Mr. Long had been instructed to repay and whether he faced any other consequences.
“I remain committed to the critical mission of FEMA — helping people before, during and after disasters,” Mr. Long said.“I remain committed to the critical mission of FEMA — helping people before, during and after disasters,” Mr. Long said.