{"id":2401524,"date":"2025-02-11T16:25:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T21:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doge-target-hit-with-complaint-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-11T16:25:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T21:25:52","slug":"doge-target-hit-with-complaint-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doge-target-hit-with-complaint-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"DOGE target hit with complaint &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoge-target-hit-with-complaint-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2401524&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The federal Emergency Management\u200b agency (FEMA) is facing a \u200dcomplaint for allegedly deleting a group\u200b chat that\u2064 discussed LGBT issues, which\u200b the Center too Advance\u200c Security in America claims was done improperly and at taxpayer expense. This complaint coincides with the Trump administration&#8217;s initiative\u200c called DOGE, led by Elon Musk, which is \u2063aimed at cutting government spending and scrutinizing agencies like FEMA.The complaint raises concerns about potential violations of the Federal Records Act, suggesting that the deletion of \u200crecords \u2062could reflect\u200b unjust \u2063politicization within \u200dFEMA. The\u200b situation has sparked calls \u2062for an examination \u200cto\u2064 ensure openness and accountability within the agency. Critics, including Trump himself, have \u2064accused FEMA of mismanagement,\u200c particularly regarding its \u200dspending in Democratic areas while neglecting other regions.There have \u2062been\u200b recent changes in the agency, including the halting of payments related to housing \u200cillegal \u200cmigrants and the \u200bfiring \u200cof several employees linked to \u2063these activities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">As DOGE targets FEMA, the aid agency is accused of illegally destroying records<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1957778\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash;<\/strong> The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is set to be a key target of Trump&rsquo;s so-called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-government-efficiency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Department of Government Efficiency<\/a>, is facing a complaint for reportedly deleting a group chat on the taxpayers&rsquo; dime.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The complaint, a copy of which was obtained by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, was filed Tuesday by <a href=\"https:\/\/advancing-america.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">the<\/a> Center to Advance Security in America. The national security <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/watchdog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">watchdog<\/a> group is pressing for an investigation into whether employees at FEMA violated federal law when they <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/news-and-politics\/2025\/01\/dei-trump-executive-order-federal-employees-government-agencies-email.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">apparently<\/a> deleted an LGBT &ldquo;pride&rdquo; chat on the Microsoft Teams software just as President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a> took office in January.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The American public deserves to know when the &lsquo;pride&rsquo; chat was created in Microsoft teams, how it was managed, how it functioned, and how it was deleted,&rdquo; CASA Director James Fitzpatrick wrote in the complaint letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the acting archivist of the United States. &ldquo;The investigation into this matter will shed light on the allegations regarding the possible wrongful deletion of federal records.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The complaint comes as DOGE, the Trump administration&rsquo;s cost-cutting effort that counts businessman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Elon Musk<\/a> as its leader, takes aim at FEMA. In a Sunday social media post, Musk said the disaster aid agency is &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1888488867809956267\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">broken<\/a>,&rdquo; while noting on Monday that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3315470\/musk-alleges-fema-reimbursed-nyc-hotels-59-million-housing-illegal-immigrants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">DOGE uncovered $59 million<\/a> in recent FEMA payments to &ldquo;luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;FEMA spent tens of millions of dollars in Democrat areas, disobeying orders, but left the people of North Carolina high and dry,&rdquo; Trump said Tuesday in a social media <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113985962341531654\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">post<\/a>. &ldquo;It is now under review and investigation. THE BIDEN RUN FEMA HAS BEEN A DISASTER. FEMA SHOULD BE TERMINATED! IT HAS BEEN SLOW AND TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE. INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD HANDLE STORMS, ETC., AS THEY COME. BIG SAVINGS, FAR MORE EFFICIENT!!!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Days after Trump&rsquo;s swearing-in, <em>Slate<\/em> published a <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/news-and-politics\/2025\/01\/dei-trump-executive-order-federal-employees-government-agencies-email.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">report<\/a> in January that characterized federal employees as fearful over the change of power. The story said a &ldquo;pride&rdquo; chat was deleted at FEMA &ldquo;for fear the membership list might fall into the wrong hands.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In the telling of CASA, a Washington, D.C.,-based nonprofit group, the reported chat deletion likely violated the Federal Records Act, a law approved in 1950 that aims to ensure agencies preserve public documents and do not destroy them.<\/p>\n<p>CASA said the report is indicative of unjust politicization at FEMA, an agency under DHS. FEMA notably came under fire in November 2024 following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">report<\/a> in the <em>Daily Wire<\/em> that said a FEMA supervisor told workers surveying damage from Hurricane Milton in Florida to avoid homes with Trump signs.<\/p>\n<p>The FEMA employee, Marn&rsquo;i Washington, was since fired from her job. <\/p>\n<p>Federal law holds that any agencies that learn of destruction of records must notify the National Archives and Justice Department to initiate an investigation. The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out for comment to the DOJ and the inspector general for the DHS. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Federal Records Act is in place to ensure that government records are diligently maintained for transparency and accountability purposes,&rdquo; CASA wrote in the complaint. &ldquo;Circumventing the protocols in place inhibits the transparency needed for governance. Furthermore, it creates distrust in the government.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>FEMA did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Since Trump&rsquo;s inauguration, DOGE has launched a sprawling effort across agencies to cut spending and change government processes, facing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3301347\/doge-plaintiff-awarded-millions-funding-trump-chopping-block\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">lawsuits<\/a> from progressive nonprofit groups in the process. FEMA <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fema-migrant-funding-new-york-hotels-immigration-elon-musk-doge-268ca7eda43011a501dfad0fa88a4775\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a> this week it halted payments to the New York City program to house migrants that Musk criticized. The agency also fired four employees involved in the program, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3316590\/dhs-fires-four-fema-employees-nyc-59-million-migrant-hotels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">according<\/a> to DHS.<\/p>\n<p>Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in an interview with CNN on Sunday that she supported getting rid of FEMA as it &ldquo;exists today.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would say, yes, get rid of FEMA the way it exists today,&rdquo; Noem said. &ldquo;We still need the resources and the funds and the finances to go to people that have these types of disasters, like Hurricane Helene and the fires in California, but you need to let the local officials make the decisions on how that is deployed.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1957778\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1957778\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As DOGE focuses on FEMA, the agency faces accusations of illegal record destruction<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":381,"featured_media":2401525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/3361d1a45c7bf50abf2fe5e424c106ad-1024x684.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2401524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/3361d1a45c7bf50abf2fe5e424c106ad-1024x684.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/381"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2401524"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2401527,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401524\/revisions\/2401527"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2401525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2401524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2401524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2401524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}