another perspective on fema reform efforts

This article comes from The Hill and provides less detail on the purported changes being recommended or axed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but several “positive statements” from DHS spokespersons, Trump task force expected to propose changes to FEMA but doesn’t recommend eliminating it: Reports  I don’t expect to see any fireworks at the December 12th meeting announcing the findings of the council. Most if not all of the membership are Republicans (or report in the case of the emergency management directors (FL & TX) to Republican governors.

Specifically, in the news story this is quoted as coming from DHS:

“Secretary Noem is the [Co] Chairwoman [the other co-chair is the Secretary of War] of the council and has worked with committee members collaboratively on the reform report that will be completed in the coming weeks,” a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told The Hill in a statement. “The claims of her or other political staff altering the report are unequivocally false. The FEMA Review council has spent months working to provide recommendations to reshape and reform the bureaucratic mess that exists at FEMA.”

A DHS spokesperson previously told The Hill the council was “conducting a thorough review to ensure FEMA delivers swift, effective disaster response for Americans.”

“Comprised of top disaster response experts, including individuals from states ravaged by recent natural disasters, the Council will provide actionable recommendations to streamline federal response to national emergencies,” the spokesperson added.

Translated: Nothing to fear here. We are being very transparent in everything we do or say. Just, don’t look behind the curtain! Remember, we can investigate and indict anyone we want! The FBI and the IRS work for us!

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Interesting side note. Last night at a birthday party, a brother and sister, 20 and 22 both said they don’t vote. The brother gets all his news from right-wing podcasts, and the sister does not follow any news whatsoever. I was telling my wife this morning that there have been over one million men and women who have died in America’s wars who fought for the right for us to have a free and democratic nation—where we have a duty as citizens to vote how we wish. There are plenty of political operative who are happy that people chose to be uninformed and not participate in voting. A sad, sad state of affairs.