WASHINGTON — Today, Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), Government Accountability Project, and Stand Up for Science (SUFS) announced their filing of whistleblower complaints against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on behalf of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) whistleblowers who wish to remain anonymous. The complaints have been sent to the Congress, the US Office of Special Counsel, and the DHS Office of Inspector General.
On August 25, 2025, 191 FEMA employees signed and sent a dissent letter to Congress -- The FEMA Katrina Declaration -- protesting gross waste and mismanagement, abuses of authority, dangers to public health and safety, and violations of laws, rules and regulations. Over 30 employees signed their names; the rest signed anonymously. The Declaration details six major objections:
Reduction in FEMA’s capacity to perform its mission;
Failure to appoint a qualified FEMA Administrator, as required by law;
Elimination of life-and cost-saving risk reduction programs;
Interference with preparedness efforts that support state, local, tribal, and territorial partners;
Censorship of climate science and environmental protections;
Reduction of FEMA’s disaster workforce.
The next day, DHS notified 30 known signers that effective immediately, they were on indefinite administrative leave, and ordered them to cease all work and not contact anyone at FEMA and DHS. The DHS actions are illegal, in violation of the federal whistleblower protection laws.
The complaints call for immediate investigations, followed by findings that DHS broke the law and orders reinstating the employees.
Traci Feit Love, Founder and Executive Director of Lawyers for Good Government, said:
Lawyers for Good Government is proud to stand with these courageous whistleblowers for doing exactly what the law protects, and what the public demands, in telling the truth about dangerous government misconduct. Retaliation against them is not just illegal, it’s a direct assault on the democratic principles that protect public servants who expose threats to public safety.
David Z. Seide, Senior Counsel at Government Accountability Project, said:
DHS’s actions are blatantly illegal. We salute these brave whistleblowers and, with our allies and partners, back their rights to speak truth to power.
Colette Delawalla, Founder and Executive Director of Stand Up for Science said:
Stand Up for Science supports these beleaguered employees who deserve better than retaliation. Their decision to blow the whistle reflects the importance of their work: saving people from disasters.