Oh Noes!! The Teleporting-To-Waffle-House FEMA Official Has "Stepped Away" From His Job, Will Be Replaced [View all]

A high-ranking official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency who sparked controversy for claiming that millions of people voted illegally in the 2016 election and that he once teleported to a Waffle House has gone on leave, agency officials confirmed Thursday.

Gregg Phillips, who was tapped to head the Office of Response and Recovery in December, has been asked to step away from his role because of concerns about how he’s publicly perceived, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The move marks the latest shake-up for an agency that has undergone extensive cuts and leadership changes since President Donald Trump took office. Trump recently nominated Cameron Hamilton, who led FEMA in a temporary capacity last year but was forced out after objecting to the idea of dismantling the agency, to be its official administrator.

The office Phillips has been leading since December oversees critical, fast-moving operations that can sometimes involve billions of dollars. The office puts equipment and other supplies in place before hurricanes hit, and then moves additional resources to states and communities after a disaster strikes; it also provides financial assistance and housing to people who have recently lost their homes and belongings.

EDIT

According to one person familiar with the situation, Phillips came into FEMA by way of Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff who often butted heads over how Noem and her top aide Corey Lewandowski were running DHS.

EDIT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/06/25/gregg-phillips-stepping-away-fema-role/