The House Ethics Committee will hold a rare public hearing to investigate Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida for allegedly misappropriating $5 million in federal pandemic relief funds and using some of the money to finance her 2022 congressional campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick denies the charges, which include theft, money laundering, and illegal campaign contributions, stemming from an indictment related to overpayments made to her family’s company holding a FEMA contract. The bipartisan committee will determine if she violated House rules, with potential penalties including censure or expulsion, despite her legal team's request to delay and close the hearing until her criminal trial concludes.
Posts tagged as “FEMA”
The U.S. Senate is close to reaching a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end a six-week partial government shutdown, with Republicans optimistic after meeting President Trump and planning to fund most DHS agencies except ICE deportation operations through separate budget reconciliation. The shutdown began over disputes about ICE funding and election reform tied to the SAVE America Act, which Trump initially demanded be linked to DHS funding but faces Democratic opposition. Separately, despite publicly denouncing mail-in voting, President Trump cast a mail-in ballot in a Florida special election, highlighting his inconsistent stance on the issue amid ongoing debates over voter ID laws.
The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has caused severe staffing shortages and long security lines at airports, prompting President Trump to deploy armed ICE agents to assist with crowd control despite their lack of TSA screening training. Efforts to resolve the shutdown include a proposed compromise to fund DHS excluding ICE, with ICE funding to be addressed separately, but President Trump rejected this plan, insisting on linking DHS funding to the controversial "SAVE America Act." As the standoff continues, travelers face ongoing delays and uncertainty, with Congress considering canceling its recess to address the impasse.
Bipartisan talks to end the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) saw progress during a recent meeting between senators and the White House’s border czar, Tom Homan, though no agreement was reached. The shutdown, which began February 14, has caused significant disruptions, including unpaid federal workers and TSA staffing shortages leading to airport delays. Despite proposals from the administration to negotiate on immigration enforcement reforms, Democrats insist on substantial changes to ICE policies before funding DHS, while Republicans demand funding the entire department, leaving the standoff unresolved as the Senate’s recess approaches.
House Democrats have introduced a discharge petition to force a vote on funding key Department of Homeland Security agencies, excluding immigration enforcement bodies like ICE and CBP, amid a partial government shutdown now in its second month. The effort reflects Democratic demands for immigration enforcement reforms following recent controversial incidents, while Republicans remain skeptical and cite recent immigration funding legislation. The shutdown has severely impacted TSA operations, causing staffing shortages, increased wait times at major airports, and resignations among TSA workers due to missed paychecks.
Senator Markwayne Mullin appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing to become the next Secretary of Homeland Security, facing scrutiny over past remarks and concerns about his readiness to lead amid ongoing departmental challenges. While Republican supporters praised Mullin’s experience and work ethic, Democrats expressed reservations about his ability to address issues such as immigration enforcement reforms, funding impasses, and agency misconduct. The committee’s recommendation will move Mullin’s nomination to the full Senate, where a simple majority vote is needed for confirmation.
A federal incident management team has taken charge of combating multiple wildfires in Polk County, North Carolina, with additional support from out-of-state firefighters, including a team from Oregon. The fires, exacerbated by dry conditions, have led to mandatory evacuations and a state of emergency declaration, as they threaten areas still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Governor Josh Stein announced FEMA's approval of a grant to aid in the response, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of local and federal agencies to manage the crisis and ensure resident safety.
On October 4th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The test will be broadcast to cellphones, televisions, and radios, and is intended to ensure that the EAS and WEA are operating effectively. No action is required from the public during the test, which is expected to last approximately one minute.