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Good enough for government work.(INSIDER REPORT)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is doing its part to keep criminals off the streets--by hiring them. During its short lifetime, the DHS's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) acquired a well-earned reputation for hiring petty thieves to inspect baggage at airports (see "TSA: Thieves, Spendthrifts, Authoritarians" in our November 15, 2004 issue).
Now we learn that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has been placed under Homeland Security's umbrella, has hired recidivist criminals to work as disaster-relief inspectors. "Government inspectors entrusted to enter disaster victims' homes and verify damage claims include criminals with records for embezzlement, drug dealing and robbery," reported the Miami Sun-Sentinel on April 24.
According to Dan Craig, director of recovery programs for FEMA, "Our contract inspectors are our first line of accountability." In hiring inspectors from one of three Washington-area firms, FEMA is required by law to subject applicants to a rigorous background check. Yet the Sun-Sentinel--in an investigation it conducted despite a complete lack of cooperation from the agency--"found 30 inspectors or managers with criminal records out of 133 it was able to identify.... 17 had criminal histories at the time ...
- FEMA's new challenges; Homeland security realignment.(OPED)
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Times May 20, 2005 700+ words
...THE WASHINGTON TIMES Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff...of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is likely to...Management Agency (FEMA), which makes up the...Chertoff's review, FEMA will likely either lose...
- Brown sees FEMA fall in Homeland Security.(NATION)
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Times March 6, 2006 700+ words
...baloney" and separate FEMA from the Homeland Security Department, Mr. Brown...re focused on preparing FEMA for the next storm season...and fully integrating FEMA operations with the Homeland Security Operations Center...
- Damage control: FEMA on a mission to regain credibility.(Homeland Security)
- Magazine article from: National Defense Wagner, Breanne July 1, 2008 700+ words
...between the president and FEMA as "absolutely fantastic...the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General...a recent report, "FEMA's Preparedness for...says Harvey Johnson, FEMA's chief operating...hearing before the House homeland security subcommittee on emergency...
- Senators vote to keep FEMA within DHS.(Federal Emergency Management Agency,...
- Newspaper article from: Nation's Cities Weekly Wollack, Leslie July 17, 2006 700+ words
...Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS...strengthen FEMA, change its...Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental...adopted by the Homeland Security Committee bill to strengthen FEMA and keep it...
- Senators oppose FEMA divorce from Homeland Security Dept.(SECURITY BEAT)
- Magazine article from: National Defense Rusling, Matthew April 1, 2009 700+ words
...debate with a report, "FEMA: In or Out?" The...The first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review is due at the...Katrina have given the FEMA director a "direct...at a recent. House Homeland Security Committee hearing was...leadership ... where [FEMA] fits on the federal...
- Crisis management: FEMA chief promises improved disaster response.(Homeland...
- Magazine article from: National Defense Magnuson, Stew September 1, 2007 700+ words
...The Department of Homeland Security agency since then...Reform. Revamping FEMA has been the responsibility...following Katrina. "FEMA is a new organization...the Department of Homeland Security, have now boosted FEMA's budget and passed...
- Hurricane Isabel May Test FEMA Effectiveness in Homeland Security Department.
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News September 16, 2003 700+ words
...during his tenure, said folding FEMA into the new Department of Homeland Security was "a fundamental mistake." Too many FEMA jobs, such as national preparedness...disaster funding was diverted to homeland security, he said. In addition, funding...
- From New Orleans, an earful of reforms; Katrina survivors to the Homeland...
- Newspaper article from: The Christian Science Monitor February 17, 2006 700+ words
...Monitor NEW ORLEANS -- If Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff...improvements in beleaguered FEMA, New Orleans residents...disappear. For many, FEMA became a kind of mysterious...earlier this week. Homeland Security's own suggestions...effects of a disaster. FEMA workers ...
