Senator Kim Successfully Advocates for FEMA ‘Katrina Declaration’ Whistleblowers to be Reinstated

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reinstated public servants who faced wrongful retaliation after speaking out about FEMA’s disaster response preparedness. As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Subcommittee that oversees FEMA, Senator Kim has long advocated for these workers to be reinstated, and most recently made the direct request to incoming-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin at his confirmation hearing on March 18, 2026. “These public servants never should have faced retaliation for raising the alarm and trying to keep Americans safe. I’ve called for these whistleblowers to be reinstated and applaud their bravery and dedication in the face of attacks from this administration. It’s a dedication that should be rewarded, and I encourage Secretary Mullin to continue to support them as they serve our communities,” said Senator Kim. Read more about the news as reported by NBC News and CNN WATCH Senator Kim’s direct exchange with Secretary Mullin demanding he follow whistleblower laws and reinstate the suspended FEMA employees. Senator Kim also led a letter alongside the Committee’s Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) requesting the U.S. Office of Special Counsel investigate potential unlawful retaliation against these public servants. They wrote, “Federal whistleblowers play a vital role in exposing governmental inefficiencies, waste, fraud, and abuse. As a result, they are afforded numerous protections under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989.” ###