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.
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.
The agency did not say where the situation happened, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said it occurred in Florida, calling it "targeted discrimination."
The next president could have a big impact on climate change policies. Here are 11 ways the issue could impact your health, bills, natural disaster recovery and more.
Hurricane Helene is one of the deadliest hurricanes to make landfall in the mainland U.S. For many places across Florida, Tennessee and the Carolinas, recovery could take months or even years — and the next president will play a vital role in what that process looks like when they take office in three months. Here's what to know about Project 2025, former President Donald Trump's and Vice President Kamala Harris' stances on extreme weather, disaster recovery, and the root of the increasing frequency and power of storms — climate change.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on Feb. 1 and ransom notes were being investigated.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is appearing before the House Judiciary Committee as the Justice Department faces questions over the Epstein files.
The Federal Aviation Administration changed course and said flights would resume after halting all air traffic into and out of El Paso.
The suspected shooter was found dead in the school from a "self-inflicted injury," Canadian police said.
Gold medalist Elizabeth Lemley is making her Winter Olympics debut at the Milan Cortina Games.
A federal grand jury refused to indict six Democrats who drew President Trump's ire by taping a video telling members of the military that they must reject "illegal orders," three sources told CBS News.
A 14-year-old girl said she was "crying" and "struggling to breathe" when law enforcement officers herded her onto a racetrack with other detainees and zip-tied her hands.
The Epstein files released by the Justice Department include hours of video footage Jeffrey Epstein recorded, received or downloaded. The Free Press has compiled it all.
A Georgia Army veteran who spent nearly five decades in the United States was deported to Jamaica following a routine traffic stop.
Gold medalist Elizabeth Lemley is making her Winter Olympics debut at the Milan Cortina Games.
A slowdown in immigration and lower birth rates could crimp the U.S. economy by shrinking the nation's workforce, researchers say
Surprise burst in hiring across the U.S. last month shows the labor market remains on solid ground.
The House is set to vote Wednesday on the SAVE America Act, which would implement strict new requirements for registering to vote and casting ballots.
The letters by William Raymond Whittaker and Jane Dean were found in a Nashville home that had belonged to Jane and her siblings.
A slowdown in immigration and lower birth rates could crimp the U.S. economy by shrinking the nation's workforce, researchers say
Surprise burst in hiring across the U.S. last month shows the labor market remains on solid ground.
Republicans have said new Medicaid work rules are aimed at unemployed young people who should have jobs. Policy researchers say the rules are more likely to disrupt coverage for middle-aged adults.
New deduction allows taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 on interest they paid to buy a new American-made vehicle in 2025.
Estée Lauder lawsuit alleges Walmart sells fake versions of products from brands including Aveda, Clinique and Tom Ford.
The House is set to vote Wednesday on the SAVE America Act, which would implement strict new requirements for registering to vote and casting ballots.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is appearing before the House Judiciary Committee as the Justice Department faces questions over the Epstein files.
Democrats are facing a stark cash gap with the Republican National Committee after the GOP closed 2025 with $95 million in cash on hand.
The Food and Drug Administration is refusing to consider Moderna's application for a new flu vaccine made with mRNA technology, the company said.
GOP leaders launched an unsuccessful bid to reinstate a ban on resolutions that challenged the president's sweeping tariffs.
The Food and Drug Administration is refusing to consider Moderna's application for a new flu vaccine made with mRNA technology, the company said.
CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder said the results of the study on coffee drinkers having lower risk of dementia should be taken "with a massive grain of salt."
The Marshall Project found more than 70,000 cases referred to law enforcement over allegations of substance use during pregnancy — and that's a significant undercount.
Experts say Affordable Care Act sign-up data won't be clear until people who were enrolled have paid — or not — their new, often much higher, premiums.
Ballad Health, the nation's largest state-sanctioned hospital monopoly, plans to rebuild Unicoi County Hospital in Tennessee on land that two climate modeling companies say is at risk of flooding.
Gold medalist Elizabeth Lemley is making her Winter Olympics debut at the Milan Cortina Games.
Team USA's curlers are trying to focus on the ice at the Winter Games in Italy, but one member from Minnesota says "what's going on there is wrong."
Ukrainian officials say a man and his three toddlers were killed when a Russian drone razed their house, and the mother, 35 weeks pregnant, is in critical condition.
The suspected shooter was found dead in the school from a "self-inflicted injury," Canadian police said.
Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate donned his Minions costume at the 2026 Winter Olympics in the men's short program, days after he received approval for the music.
Chappell Roan says she's left her talent agency after its CEO, Casey Wasserman, was named in files related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Just 30 seconds of highly coveted commercial airtime during the Super Bowl costs as much as $10 million, according to CBS News MoneyWatch. Bill Pearce, marketing faculty member at The University of California, Berkeley, joins to discuss some of the ads from Super Bowl LX.
Bad Bunny's historic Super Bowl halftime show included superstar surprise guests and a message of unity and cultural celebration. While many praised the performance, President Trump took to social media to criticize the show. CBS News political director Fin Gómez joins with analysis.
The Super Bowl is a football game, an entertainment spectacle, a global billboard and a crucible of American political discord. CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett explains.
Catherine O'Hara, known for her roles in "Home Alone," "Schitt's Creek" and "Beetlejuice," died on Jan. 30 at the age of 71.
Millions of Americans are turning to AI for emotional therapy. A report in JAMA found about 13% of young people use AI chatbots for mental health advice. Dr. Sue Varma, a board-certified psychiatrist, explains what to know about safety, privacy and ethical standard concerns.
The demands of the artificial intelligence boom may be causing shortages in other sectors that help boost the U.S. economy. Shira Ovide, a technology reporter for The Washington Post, joins CBS News 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.
Opening statements began in a landmark trial against Google and Meta on the apparent harms of social media platforms. CBS News' Jo Ling Kent reports.
Instagram's parent company Meta and Google's YouTube dispute claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children.
After decades monitoring polar bears in Norway's far north, researchers say the animals have proven incredibly adaptable, but there are no guarantees for the future.
Dark matter doesn't absorb or give off light so scientists can't study it directly. But they can observe how its gravity warps and bends the star stuff around it.
"CBS Saturday Morning" learns more about Veronika, the clever cow who figured out multiple ways to scratch herself with a broom. It was the first time a cow was seen using a tool.
"Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date.
The Dinosaur National Monument, which is located on the border between Colorado and Utah, was last excavated in 1924.
The videos released in the latest batch of Epstein files provide a disturbing look into the convicted sex offender's life. The Free Press video journalist Tanya Lukyanova joins CBS News to discuss.
A man who was briefly detained in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case wants to clear his name, saying "I didn't do anything. ... I'm innocent." This comes after the FBI released images of a subject at Guthrie's footsteps. CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti reports.
Officials are looking to identify a person who was caught on video wearing a mask and gloves outside Nancy Guthrie's home the night she went missing. On Tuesday, a person was detained in connection to the case and a man who identified himself as Carlos said he was that person and was released. Lance Leising, a retired supervisory special agent with the FBI, joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the latest developments in the case.
The White House said Tuesday it stands by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as more details emerge about his apparent relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. This comes as more files depict what President Trump apparently knew about the convicted sex offender. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.
At least nine people were killed, dozens were injured, and the shooter is dead after a set of shootings in British Columbia, Canadian police said Tuesday. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.
The new crew will replace four station fliers who returned to Earth ahead of schedule last month due to a medical issue.
NASA's first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years has been delayed until March at the earliest. During a routine dress rehearsal of the launch, persistent liquid hydrogen leaks were discovered in the Artemis II rocket. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood breaks it down.
NASA plans to test the planned leak repair with a second dress rehearsal fueling test later this month.
NASA delayed the Artemis II moon rocket launch after a hydrogen leak was found during a wet dress rehearsal, the agency announced Tuesday. CBS News senior space consultant Bill Harwood has the latest.
A NASA mission is underway to map the heliosphere, which is a huge protective bubble around the solar system that was created by the sun.
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.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky talks with "CBS Mornings" about the brief El Paso airspace closure and immigration crackdowns in U.S. cities, adding "I think there's a loss of public trust" in ICE" following the deadly shootings in Minneapolis. On Thursday, top officials from three federal immigration agencies will testify before a Senate committee. (Update: The FAA lifted the closure at El Paso Airport hours after it said it was halting all flights in and out of the airport for 10 days)
President Trump has signed executive actions to fast-track construction permits for artificial intelligence data centers, but residents near those sites are worried about their impact. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.
On this edition of CBS Mornings Deals, we show you items that might just become essentials in your everyday life. Visit cbsdeals.com to take advantage of these exclusive deals today. CBS earns commissions on purchases made through cbsdeals.com.
The value of Olympic gold medals may be higher than usual as metal prices rise. CBS MoneyWatch reporter Megan Cerullo has more.
U.S. figure skater Maxim Naumov made his Olympic debut a year after his parents and coaches died in a midair plane crash near Washington, D.C. CBS News' Kelly O'Brady reports.