FEMA hiring overhaul drives fears of agency dismantling
The decision to reshape the hiring process for the agency's disaster relief foot soldiers comes just months before hurricane season.
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The decision to reshape the hiring process for the agency's disaster relief foot soldiers comes just months before hurricane season.
The cancellation of courses at National Fire Academy comes as the federally funded institution was set to welcome a new set of fire safety officers for training next week.
The chief financial officer at FEMA was fired after Elon Musk alleged she illegally sent funds to New York City to book luxury hotels for migrants. However, in an interview with CBS Evening News co-anchor Maurice DuBois, Mary Comans says a member of DOGE directed her to make the payments. DuBois joins "America Decides" with the latest.
"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.
A FEMA-funded buyout program only provides 75% of the funding for the city to buy affected properties at fair market value, while the remaining share is absorbed by sellers.
After meeting with the White House border czar on Thursday, Mayor Eric Adams says he agreed to allow ICE agents onto Rikers Island to find violent criminals.
People on both sides of the political aisle think the Federal Emergency Management Agency needs to change, but could President Trump's plan to address issues worsen things? Sophia Cai, White House reporter for Politico, and Fin Gómez, CBS News political reporter, join "America Decides" to discuss.
As President Trump visited Los Angeles and met victims who lost their homes in the area's historic wildfires, he suggested that the future of FEMA is uncertain. The damage caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires is now estimated at up to $275 billion. Elise Preston reports.
President Trump is traveling to natural disaster areas for his first official trip outside of Washington, D.C., since taking office earlier this week. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more on Trump's plans for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The president said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been too bureaucratic and slow in its response to disasters.
President Trump said Friday he was planning to sign an executive order that could lead to an overhaul, or elimination, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan examines what this could mean. She also discusses why Mr. Trump removed the federal security detail for Dr. Anthony Fauci.
President Trump spoke at a briefing in Los Angeles on Friday after touring wildfire damage. He pledged to surge federal resources to the Golden State to help with its recovery efforts.
President Trump suggested getting rid of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and letting individual states coordinate disaster responses. Former FEMA regional administrator Thomas Sivak joins "The Daily Report" to discuss its role after major disasters and if individual states can pick up the slack.
Firefighters are still working to contain blazes that have erupted in Southern California. Tom LoBianco, national politics reporter for 24sight News, and Maeve Reston, national political reporter for The Washington Post, join "America Decides" to discuss President Trump's visit to the state Friday to survey the destruction.
During week one of the new Trump administration, the president initiated a strict border crackdown, greenlit fossil fuel exploration and more. CBS News' Camilo Montoya-Galvez and Weijia Jiang join "America Decides" to recap the first days of Trump's return.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom greeted President Trump and first lady Melania Trump in Los Angeles on Friday for their tour of areas impacted by wildfires. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.
FEMA and the Los Angeles Fire Department are ramping up efforts to counter false rumors and misinformation spreading online about the wildfires.
Face the Nation Moderator Margaret Brennan speaks with the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency about the devastating wildfires in Southern California.
Thousands of Los Angeles homeowners do not have home insurance. Several private insurers in California have either raised prices or completely removed their coverage in at-risk areas. Business Insider senior sustainability reporter Catherine Boudreau joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
Republican Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia joins "America Decides" to discuss if he will support the Republican's new spending deal.
Congressional leaders have unveiled a stopgap bill to keep the government funded through March 14, 2025. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion has the latest from Capitol Hill.
Increasingly intense wildfires have become more common in California, upending the lives of thousands. Many insurers are dwindling coverage options, leaving several homes in danger. Business Insider senior sustainability reporter Catherine Boudreau joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
The U.S. faced an unprecedented 179 disasters in 2024, according to FEMA, affecting millions of Americans and wiping out some towns. CBS News' Nicole Sganga spoke with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about these catastrophes and the dwindling funds to help those affected.
The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency testified before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday about the agency's response to hurricanes Helene and Milton and its future funding. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane has the details.
Trump warns Iran to make a deal on his terms "before it is too late," as Israel says it's killed the Iranian commander behind the Strait of Hormuz closure.
A Trump administration official has made new criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James to federal prosecutors in Miami and Chicago.
The verdict, which caps a weeks-long trial in Los Angeles, could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida is accused of using part of the $5 million to bolster her campaign and on luxury goods.
A potential deal to end the DHS shutdown has stalled on Capitol Hill after Senate Democrats made their latest counteroffer.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health and interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told staff a permanent CDC director could be nominated soon. "I know that it has been such a difficult year," he said.
In a post on X Saturday, Musk offered to pay the salaries of TSA workers during the DHS shutdown.
Since Monday, much of the wreckage had remained on the tarmac, blocking access to one of LaGuardia's two runways at one of the country's busiest airports.
Major League Baseball's "robot umpire" made its debut in the season-opening New Yankees-San Francisco Giants game in Oracle Park.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida is accused of using part of the $5 million to bolster her campaign and on luxury goods.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren's bill would raise taxes on households worth more than $50 million and on billionaires.
Since Monday, much of the wreckage had remained on the tarmac, blocking access to one of LaGuardia's two runways at one of the country's busiest airports.
FEMA will make $1 billion available for the BRIC program, which helps local governments harden against natural hazards like fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes.
A survey of Minneapolis and St. Paul residents found the deployment of thousands of federal agents to their cities caused significant upheaval to their lives.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren's bill would raise taxes on households worth more than $50 million and on billionaires.
The U.S. Postal Service is raising some postage prices to help offset the federal agency's rising transportation costs as fuel prices surge.
With Social Security's trust fund sliding toward insolvency, one group wants to cap benefits for the wealthiest U.S. couples.
Summer gasoline regulations will be waived for 20 days, and possibly longer to try to ease gas prices.
The verdict, which caps a weeks-long trial in Los Angeles, could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida is accused of using part of the $5 million to bolster her campaign and on luxury goods.
President Trump suggested late Wednesday he's avoiding describing the military conflict with Iran as a "war" because of concerns around the fact that Congress hasn't authorized military force.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health and interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told staff a permanent CDC director could be nominated soon. "I know that it has been such a difficult year," he said.
FEMA will make $1 billion available for the BRIC program, which helps local governments harden against natural hazards like fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes.
A Trump administration official has made new criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James to federal prosecutors in Miami and Chicago for two cases of possible homeowner's insurance fraud, sources told CBS News.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health and interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told staff a permanent CDC director could be nominated soon. "I know that it has been such a difficult year," he said.
Federal health officials posted a warning about misleading statements by biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong about his company's bladder cancer drug Anktiva.
Doctors fear that skepticism, fueled by anti-science sentiment and mistrust, is extending beyond vaccines to other proven, routine care.
Transit Officer Paul DeGeorge thought his son was lying on him. Then he realized something much scarier was happening.
A judge blocked a set of changes to the childhood vaccine schedule recommended by allies of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, dealing a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul federal vaccine policy.
Twin mountain gorillas were recently born in the Virunga National Park, renowned for its biodiversity but threatened by conflict.
Trump warns Iran to make a deal on his terms "before it is too late," as Israel says it's killed the Iranian commander behind the Strait of Hormuz closure.
President Trump suggested late Wednesday he's avoiding describing the military conflict with Iran as a "war" because of concerns around the fact that Congress hasn't authorized military force.
Trump says Iran's navy is "gone," so how does it still have a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz? Part of the answer may lie off Ukraine's Black Sea coast.
El Paso, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, had some of the worst air pollution in the U.S. last year, according to a new report.
Major League Baseball's "robot umpire" made its debut in the season-opening New Yankees-San Francisco Giants game in Oracle Park.
A newly released video shows the police interactions with Taylor Frankie Paul in 2023 that led to charges, including domestic violence in the presence of a child. CBS News Shanelle Kaul has the latest.
Rocky Carroll, who has played the role of Director Leon Vance on "NCIS" for nearly two decades, joins to discuss the show's 500th episode, which aired Tuesday.
(Alert: Spoilers ahead!) Actor Rocky Carroll, who has played beloved "NCIS" director Leon Vance for 18 season, talks with "CBS Mornings" about a shocking twist in the series in the show's 500th episode and what he would tell his younger self.
A new documentary examines the artificial intelligence boom and its potential risks to humanity, featuring interviews with top AI company CEOs and other experts. Co-director Charlie Tyrell and producer Ted Tremper join CBS News to discuss the making of the film, "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist."
A Los Angeles jury ruled against Meta and Google on Wednesday, finding the companies liable for reports of damage done to young people by social media. That verdict came less than 24 hours after a similar ruling in New Mexico, where a jury found Meta violated state consumer protection law and endangered children. New Mexico attorney general Raúl Torrez joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
For years, governments have attempted to regulate new, emerging technologies on a global scale. Roland Fryer, a CBS News contributor and author of the Wall Street Journal op-ed "The Economics of Regulating AI," breaks it down.
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.
In a landmark social media trial, Meta and YouTube were found liable for creating products that led to addictive behavior. CBS News senior business and technology correspondent Jo Ling Kent has the details.
A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and YouTube liable in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit that alleged the platforms knowingly made their services addictive and harmful to minors. CBS News contributor Jessica Levinson has more on the verdict.
The staff at a Florida sea turtle hospital is monitoring some animals they've rehabilitated from space -- especially amputees, such as one they named Amelie, who's back at sea.
The seed reveals that people in France have been cultivating the popular variety of grape since at least the 1400s, scientists say.
Researchers in Cambodia surveyed dozens of previously unexplored caves and found several species never seen before, including a pit viper that is still being studied.
The iNaturalist cellphone app not only helps users identify plant, animal and insect species; it also provides invaluable data to scientists studying biodiversity, species decline, and habitat loss. It also provides opportunities for fun: David Pogue joins iNaturalist fan Martha Stewart in a "bioblitz" – a timed competition with other users to spot and ID species.
The song is that of a humpback whale and was recorded by scientists in March 1949 in Bermuda, researchers said.
A newly released video shows the police interactions with Taylor Frankie Paul in 2023 that led to charges, including domestic violence in the presence of a child. CBS News Shanelle Kaul has the latest.
Savannah Guthrie said her family is in agony as she made a tearful plea for someone "to do the right thing" nearly two months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared.
Arielle Konig testified that her husband, anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig, attempted to stab her with a syringe, and when that failed she said he repeatedly bashed her head with a rock during a birthday hike one year ago. Gerhardt Konig has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his wife. Matt Gutman reports.
A jury in New Mexico found Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, misled users about safety and enabled child sexual exploitation on its platforms. A judge has ordered the tech giant to pay $375 million in civil damages. Meta says it will appeal the verdict.
Paul Kovacich's defense team contends that long-suppressed evidence debunks claims that he killed his dog weeks before his wife disappeared.
As the number of people with cameras on their dashboards and doorbells has grown, so have reports of such sightings.
In an on-going overhaul of NASA's Artemis program, agency officials say it will take seven years to build a sophisticated base on the moon.
NASA's Artemis II rocket is back on the launch pad after repairs inside the massive Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Early next month, NASA will try, for a second time, to send a crew of four on a flyby of the moon. Mark Strassmann has more.
A possible meteorite crashed into a Houston area house on Saturday night, tearing through the roof and two stories of the home, officials said.
Retired NASA astronaut and Air Force Col. Eileen Collins joins "CBS Saturday Morning" to discuss her groundbreaking journey to become the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission.
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.
ALL NEW: A couple is attacked as they slept. They later team up with law enforcement and get their assailant to confess to more crimes. "48 Hours" correspondent Tracy Smith reports Saturday, March 28 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Long TSA lines continue continue across the country as DHS shutdown hits Day 40; White House says Trump will "unleash Hell" if Iran doesn't make a deal.
As young athletes work to balance classes and competition, doctors are underscoring the need for proper hydration and nutrition. Gwen Baumgardner reports from Los Angeles, with updated guidelines about the water and carbs needed before taking the field.
Travelers around the country faced growing security lines on Wednesday as the partial government shutdown continued and TSA agents worked without pay.
In a Florida special election on Tuesday, Democrats flipped a state House seat in a district that includes President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Political strategists Kendra Barkoff Lamy and Doug Heye join "The Takeout" with analysis.