Whistleblowers | FEMA staff suspended after protest over agency leadership

A number of employees at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency have been placed on leave after signing an open letter of dissent against the agency's leadership, according to the non-profit group that published the letter.

The move deepens concerns that President Donald Trump's administration does not tolerate dissent. In July, the US Environmental Protection Agency placed 139 employees on administrative leave after they signed a letter criticizing Trump policies.

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"We can confirm multiple FEMA employees who publicly signed the Katrina Declaration have been placed on administrative leave," non-profit group Stand Up for Science said in a statement. The group did not specify how many employees were affected.

The Washington Post reported that shortly after, FEMA's office of the administrator had issued several letters notifying staff they were on administrative leave "in a non-duty status while continuing to receive pay and benefits."