Charlotte Observer: “Whatley’s campaign did not specifically answer individual questions about whether Whatley was appointed to lead Hurricane recovery in western North Carolina, what Whatley’s authority is in his role, and whether he has any responsibility to address ongoing reimbursement delays and complaints from local officials.”

In new reporting from the Charlotte Observer, DC insider Michael Whatley is renouncing his “recovery czar” title in a desperate attempt to cover up his failure to deliver relief to Western North Carolina over the last year. But the truth is, as The Assembly recently reported, Whatley has embraced the title and “told local Republicans that it was Trump who dubbed him the recovery czar.” 

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Charlotte Observer: Is Michael Whatley Trump’s Helene recovery czar? His campaign doesn’t want label

Nora O’Neill | January 21, 2026

• During Trump’s visit to western North Carolina in January 2025, he criticized FEMA and said he wanted to work closely with the state to help recovery and that Whatley will take on a “very important role” in the process. 

• “Michael Whatley is going to be very much in charge,” Trump said. “He happens to come from a place called North Carolina. So I said, ‘Michael, fix it.’ So, good luck.”

• Whatley’s campaign did not specifically answer individual questions about whether Whatley was appointed to lead Hurricane recovery in western North Carolina, what Whatley’s authority is in his role, and whether he has any responsibility to address ongoing reimbursement delays and complaints from local officials.

• The FEMA Review Council, which Whatley serves on, has drawn scrutiny over delays and controversy around its recommendations.

• Politico reported that a FEMA Review Council meeting scheduled for Dec. 11, where members were expected to release and vote on the panel’s final recommendations, was canceled after CNN obtained a copy of the council’s report and published details from it including the proposal to downsize FEMA’s role.

• Whatley is also the co-chair of the subcommittee in charge of drafting the final report, which was due to the president in mid-November, according to the Department of Homeland Security website. Whatley’s campaign did not answer questions about the report and his role on the subcommittee. 

• Helene recovery delays and reimbursement problems in western North Carolina have been widely reported. 

• In October, The Washington Post reported that counties in western North Carolina were still waiting on FEMA reimbursements more than a year after Helene, and that new approval hurdles inside DHS have slowed payments, including a policy requiring DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to sign off on FEMA expenses over $100,000.

• WRAL reported in September that disaster recovery leaders told state lawmakers that “FEMA is our biggest obstacle” and said federal support so far has covered roughly 9% of estimated Helene damages in North Carolina, compared to the more than 70% of costs covered for Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.

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