FEMA CFO fired over payments to NYC for migrants says she had DOGE sign-off
"They told me to do these actions, to make these payments, and then they fired me," said Mary Comans, who was FEMA's chief financial officer.
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"They told me to do these actions, to make these payments, and then they fired me," said Mary Comans, who was FEMA's chief financial officer.
Former FEMA CFO Mary Comans, who was fired in February by the Trump administration for sending payments to New York City to cover hotels for migrants, says she was following DOGE's directions. Comans speaks out for the first time since her firing in an exclusive interview with "CBS Evening News" co-anchor Maurice DuBois.
Job cuts spiked in February, marking their highest point since July 2020, due to firings of government workers directed by DOGE.
Layoffs spiked in February, led by the Department of Government Efficiency cuts. Employers cut about 172,000 jobs last month, according to the firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. That's the highest number of layoffs per month since the height of the pandemic in July 2020. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady breaks it down.
Hundreds of staffers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, have found themselves the target of the Trump administration's efforts to cut back the federal workforce. The move has many in storm-prone regions, like Louisiana, concerned. Rick Spinrad, who served as the administrator for NOAA during the Biden administration, joins "America Decides" to discuss.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) spoke with CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion about efforts to fund the government, President Trump's actions in the first weeks of his second term and more.
President Trump made claims during his address to Congress about apparent fraud in the Social Security system. Mr. Trump also touted the work by the Department of Government Efficiency, which is connected to Elon Musk's role advising the president. CBS News Confirmed's Rhona Tarrant fact checks the claims.
The White House's Department of Government Efficiency laid off about 1,000 National Park Service workers last month as part of its wave of federal mass firings.
Stacy Ramsey worked in Arkansas' Ozark National Forest as the only permanent river ranger, saving dozens of hikers and boaters on search and rescue missions. This month, she was let go as part of the Trump administration's federal mass firings, leaving her without health insurance. Karen Hua reports.
Several Democratic lawmakers are bringing fired federal workers to tonight's address to protest President Trump's so-called "war on waste." Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona is one of those lawmakers. He joins CBS News to discuss why.
"This will no doubt result in preventable death, destabilization, and threats to national security on a massive scale," Nick Enrich wrote in the memo.
The Trump administration's latest wave of cuts to the federal government hit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week. Alan Sealls, president-elect of the American Meteorological Society, joins CBS News to discuss what the cuts could mean for the future of weather forecasting and how everyday Americans might feel the impacts.
A new CBS News poll shows an overwhelming amount of Americans think President Trump is making major changes to the government for better or for worse. CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto unpacks the numbers.
One of the first federal agencies affected by the Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal workforce was the U.S. Agency for International Development, which oversees aid programs worldwide. Dan McDonald, who has spent most of his career at USAID's Middle East bureau, was put on leave in February and expects to be fired on April 24. McDonald joins CBS News to discuss his experience.
Several former federal workers fired as a result of the Trump administration's widespread DOGE cuts are expected to attend the president's congressional address Tuesday night at the invitation of Democrats. New reporting from the American Communities Project looks into just how far-reaching these mass layoffs are. The Project's director and founder Dante Chinni joins "America Decides" to unpack the findings.
According to new CBS News polling, most Americans believe President Trump is transforming the federal government, but they are divided on whether that's a good thing. CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto unpacks the findings.
President Trump has promised that Elon Musk will not participate in conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, Democratic lawmakers are expressing concerns over Musk's Starlink and efforts underway that might allow it to take over a $2.4 billion contract between the FAA and Verizon. Politico aviation reporter Oriana Pawlyk joins "America Decides" to discuss.
The firings were part of the sweeping cuts spurred by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
The Office of Personnel Management sent out a new email over the weekend that once again asked federal workers to send five bullet points on what they did last week. CBS News White House reporter Aaron Navarro has more.
The GSA's tech unit, known as the 18F office, employed a team of researchers, website designers and product managers.
A second email asking government workers to detail what they did in the last week went out to some agencies on Saturday.
A new report from Wired says that the Department of Government Efficiency's takeover of the federal bureaucracy is "worse than you think." Brian Barrett, the article's author and executive editor of news at Wired, joins "America Decides" to explain.
There are similarities between ongoing federal "buyout" offers and how Elon Musk handled his acquisition of Twitter. Federal workers received the Trump administration's deferred resignation offer in an email entitled "fork in the road," the same subject line as a 2022 message Musk sent to Twitter employees. CBS News senior White House and political correspondent Ed O'Keefe reports.
Democratic leaders are sharing their concerns about the House Republicans' budget resolution. Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, joins "America Decides" to discuss.
There are concerns over Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) firings at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This comes as details emerge about another potential email asking for federal employees to provide details about their work week. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi reports.
The budget carrier Spirit Airlines is ceasing operations after failing to land a $500 million bailout from the Trump administration.
President Trump said earlier this week he was reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, which hosts more than 35,000 U.S. service members.
Iran says it's offered a new proposal for talks with the U.S. to end the war, as the Strait of Hormuz standoff sends costs soaring around the world.
The Republican governors of Tennessee and Alabama called state lawmakers into special sessions on Friday, initial steps in what could be a scramble to redraw congressional maps after the Supreme Court narrowed the Voting Rights Act.
A federal judge scolded prosecutors for pushing to move forward with detention proceedings for accused correspondents' dinner gunman Cole Allen, even though Allen agreed to remain in custody.
President Trump on Friday told Congress that hostilities with Iran have "terminated," addressing a critical 60-day deadline.
The new measures increase pressure on foreign financial institutions by threatening their access to U.S. markets if they continue to work with Cuban government entities.
Federal telecom regulators can revoke broadcast licenses, but legal experts say the FCC would face a tough road in forcing ABC to go dark.
The longtime president of Bard College announced his retirement, months after it was revealed that he had a much deeper relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than was previously known.
The budget carrier Spirit Airlines is ceasing operations after failing to land a $500 million bailout from the Trump administration.
The longtime president of Bard College announced his retirement, months after it was revealed that he had a much deeper relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than was previously known.
The Republican governors of Tennessee and Alabama called state lawmakers into special sessions on Friday, initial steps in what could be a scramble to redraw congressional maps after the Supreme Court narrowed the Voting Rights Act.
Mike and Kayla Wintz lost their entire 11,000-acre ranch to a wildfire in the span of about two hours. They have since been gifted about $80,000 worth of hay, mostly from anonymous donors.
A federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common means of abortion in the U.S. by blocking the mailing of mifepristone.
The budget carrier Spirit Airlines is ceasing operations after failing to land a $500 million bailout from the Trump administration.
The deal merged Major League Pickleball and the Carvana PPA Tour, two of the nascent sport's most active entities, under one company, Pickleball Inc.
Ford CEO Jim Farley tells CBS News, "Most of our new models are going to be more affordable versions."
Have tickets to fly on Spirit? Here's what to know about refunds and alternative flights as the budget airline ceases operations.
The first refund payments will go out later this month as the portal works through kinks to return money to businesses.
The Republican governors of Tennessee and Alabama called state lawmakers into special sessions on Friday, initial steps in what could be a scramble to redraw congressional maps after the Supreme Court narrowed the Voting Rights Act.
The new measures increase pressure on foreign financial institutions by threatening their access to U.S. markets if they continue to work with Cuban government entities.
A federal judge scolded prosecutors for pushing to move forward with detention proceedings for accused correspondents' dinner gunman Cole Allen, even though Allen agreed to remain in custody.
President Trump said earlier this week he was reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, which hosts more than 35,000 U.S. service members.
A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from revoking legal protections for more than 2,800 Yemeni nationals.
A federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common means of abortion in the U.S. by blocking the mailing of mifepristone.
Former Sen. Ben Sasse, 54, called daraxonrasib "a miracle drug" that was allowing him to live longer and with less pain.
The "big beautiful bill" requires U.S. states to add work requirements to Medicaid by January 2027. Experts warn millions could lose health coverage.
Hundreds of foreign doctors about to complete training in the U.S. will have to leave the country if the federal government doesn't rapidly process their visa waiver applications, immigration attorneys say.
The Trump administration is proposing wastewater testing to try to ferret out data on illegal drug use in real time, according to a draft of a new drug control strategy obtained by CBS News. It also proposes using AI to track threats.
President Trump said earlier this week he was reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, which hosts more than 35,000 U.S. service members.
President Trump on Friday told Congress that hostilities with Iran have "terminated," addressing a critical 60-day deadline.
Journalist Paige McClanahan writes about how tourism shapes societies and individuals, and about the need to redefine the meaning of "tourist" in today's shrinking world.
James Holder, 54, was found guilty by a jury in Gloucester Crown Court of one count of rape for the May 2022 assault.
Iran said it had offered a new proposal to the U.S. to end the war, as the Strait of Hormuz standoff sends costs soaring around the world.
Gold House revealed its 2026 Gold100 list honoring Asian Pacific culture. Co-founder and CEO Bing Chen joins CBS News with more.
The bestselling author and editor of The Golfer's Journal teed up for a challenge – taking over operations of a failing nine-hole community golf course in New York's Catskill Mountains – and writes of the tribulations that were par for the course.
The pop star sat down with Gayle King for an exclusive interview airing Monday on "CBS Mornings."
Lizzo sits down with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King to discuss what the public misunderstands about her.
Spencer Pratt, who starred in the mid-2000s reality TV show "The Hills," released a new ad in his campaign for Los Angeles mayor that's getting attention online. CBS News political director Fin Gómez joins with analysis.
Powerful artificial intelligence data centers are putting a significant strain on the nation's power grid, but one U.S.-based company has a proposal to help solve the issue. Jon Parella, CEO and founder of Terraflow Energy, joins to discuss.
Apple's latest earnings report beat Wall Street expectations. CBS News contributor Patrick McGee joins with more.
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
Elon Musk's testimony concluded Thursday in his lawsuit against OpenAI. Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and host of "The Most Interesting Thing in AI" podcast, joins "The Takeout" with analysis.
Elon Musk was cross-examined in his lawsuit against OpenAI on Thursday. In testimony on Wednesday, he said he was "a fool" for funding OpenAI. He is accusing OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, of betraying him and the public by abandoning its core mission as it transitioned from a nonprofit to a for-profit company. WIRED senior writer Maxwell Zeff joins CBS News to discuss.
Bill Nye The Science Guy, the chief ambassador of The Planetary Society, joins CBS News 24/7 Mornings with more after meeting the Artemis II crew in person after their successful mission around the moon.
The Trump administration has fired all 22 current members of an independent board that oversees the National Science Foundation, one dismissed member says.
Archaeologists found the victim holding a terracotta mortar, which they interpret as an improvised attempt to shield his head.
Rapid development has been shrinking the jungle habitat of the critically endangered species, and fatal conflicts with people have been increasing.
The carnivorous Venus fly trap is native to the Carolinas, but its population is dwindling due to loss of habitat. Correspondent Seth Doane talks with botanist Julie Moore, who has spent much of her life helping to save these remarkable plants; and with Damon Waitt, director of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, who discusses the unusual traits of a species that Charles Darwin called the most interesting plant in the world.
Friday marked exactly three months since Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing. Briana Whitney, a breaking news reporter for the Crime Junkie podcast, joins "The Daily Report" with more.
For more than 100 years, the White House Correspondents' Dinner has celebrated the First Amendment and freedom of the press. The annual event is also a fundraiser for journalism scholarships. This year, the White House Correspondents' Association awarded $156,000 in grants to 30 college students. Two recipients, Kaitlin Bender-Thomas and Madison Maynard, join "The Daily Report" to discuss the shooting.
Newly released video shows the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting suspect and his movements ahead of the attack. Other video also shows a clearer image of the confrontation between law enforcement and the suspect. CBS News' Anna Schecter has more details.
A body found in Tampa Bay has been identified as the second missing student from the University of South Florida, according to the sheriff, who called their killings a "monstrous crime." Cristian Benavides reports.
According to investigators, a gunman was inside the D.C. Hilton last Friday, waiting for his chance to assassinate President Trump and members of his Cabinet. New video offers the clearest view yet of what happened just before the attack. Nicole Sganga reports.
The Artemis II team gained a new member, and the crew made sure their youngest teammate had the right stuff for space.
The Artemis II astronauts said they actually really enjoyed the space food, but it was a familiar candy they enjoyed after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
The plumbing issues aboard the Orion capsule became headline news in the early days of the historic Artemis II mission.
The Artemis II astronauts joined "CBS Mornings" for a live town hall where they took questions from kids just weeks after returning from their historic moon mission.
SpaceX's most powerful operational rocket boosted a high-speed ViaSat internet data relay satellite into space to complete a globe-spanning constellation.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
Americans took to the streets on Friday for May Day, also referred to as International Workers' Day. The day commemorates the 1886 Haymarket Affair, when a Chicago protest for an eight-hour workday turned into a violent clash between demonstrators and police. Some cities saw "Workers Over Billionaires" rallies and marches this year.
Saturday marks the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 20 horses are set to run for the roses in the first leg of the triple crown. Hannah Vanbiber, a senior editor at The Athletic, joins "The Daily Report" to preview what's dubbed the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Friday marked exactly three months since Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing. Briana Whitney, a breaking news reporter for the Crime Junkie podcast, joins "The Daily Report" with more.
Consumers are cutting back on goods with sharp price increases, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. From December to February, spending on clothing fell 7%, spending on furniture fell 5% and spending on sports equipment fell 6%. The Wall Street Journal economics reporter Rachel Wolfe writes in her recent piece that recent inflation is not driven by consumer demand, but by companies passing on increased costs to customers. She joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
For more than 100 years, the White House Correspondents' Dinner has celebrated the First Amendment and freedom of the press. The annual event is also a fundraiser for journalism scholarships. This year, the White House Correspondents' Association awarded $156,000 in grants to 30 college students. Two recipients, Kaitlin Bender-Thomas and Madison Maynard, join "The Daily Report" to discuss the shooting.