FEMA tells court it is offering jobs back to employees who were let go in January
FEMA has begun offering new appointments to disaster workers whose contracts were not renewed in January 2026, reversing a controversial workforce decision. The move follows a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and government groups concerned about the agency's disaster preparedness. This shift may signal a change in leadership approach under Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
- ▪FEMA started offering new appointments to term-limited staff whose contracts expired in early January 2026.
- ▪The nonrenewals affected 159 CORE employees before the agency paused the practice in late January.
- ▪A coalition led by the American Federation of Government Employees sued the administration, alleging the cuts threatened FEMA's disaster response capabilities.
- ▪FEMA reinstated 14 employees who had been on paid leave for signing a public letter criticizing agency policies.
- ▪The agency's CORE workforce consists of about 10,000 on-call employees typically renewed on two- to four-year assignments.
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ABC NewsLiveVideoShowsGood Morning AmericaShopGMAInterest Successfully AddedWe'll notify you here with news aboutTurn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? OffOnStream onFEMA tells court it is offering jobs back to employees who were let go in JanuaryThe Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun offering new appointments to disaster workers whose contracts were not renewed in JanuaryByGABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA Associated PressMay 1, 2026, 10:49 PM1:55FILE - Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks with reporters on the steps at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)The Associated PressAn attorney representing the Trump administration informed a U.S.
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