New reporting from NPR reveals that the FEMA Review Council, led by “recovery czar” Michael Whatley, is expected to hand in their final report four months late. Previous reporting has outlined how the delayed report has left state recovery officials “hamstrung” and “in a difficult spot.”
Whatley is the co-chair of the Final Report Subcommittee, and his delayed report continues to hurt Western North Carolina communities.
“‘Recovery czar’ Michael Whatley is in charge of delivering the FEMA Review Council’s final report and four months past the deadline, he continues to fail to do his job. Whatley can’t be trusted to deliver for North Carolina families,” said Mallory Payne, senior communications advisor at the North Carolina Democratic Party.
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- The 89-page draft dates from December, when the FEMA Review Council was scheduled to adopt final recommendations, but the council’s final meeting was abruptly canceled.
- The final report is now expected in late March and could differ substantively from the December draft, although there have been no further public meetings of the council in the intervening months.
- FEMA has already lost about 2,000 employees since Trump took office due to layoffs and other departures, including many senior staff. The administration is moving to cut thousands more FEMA workers this year by declining to renew multiyear contracts.
- During Hurricane Helene in 2024, the agency got more than half a million calls in just a week.
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