Overview
Senior official performing the duties of FEMA administrator in December 2025–May 2026, who submitted a 50%-reduction staffing plan after DHS-level communications; court found FEMA's cooperation with DHS unlawful and sanctioned destruction of relevant Signal messages.
FEMA staffing plan and DHS instructions
The September 11, 2026 ruling in AFGE v. Trump states that Evans submitted a December 4, 2025 staffing proposal targeting 11,383 jobs, roughly half FEMA's staffing. Evans's notes and testimony connected the 50% target to DHS deputy chief of staff Joseph Guy and adviser Kara Voorhies. FEMA supervisors recommended maintaining or increasing staffing, and Chief Human Capital Officer La'Toya Prieur was not involved in the relevant discussions. Sources.
Nonrenewal decision and judicial ruling
The court found that DHS improperly took over FEMA's statutory authority to renew Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery staff, and that FEMA under Evans unlawfully acquiesced. Some CORE employees received nonrenewal notices beginning January 2026. A proposal to halve staffing is not evidence half the workforce was actually dismissed. Sources.
Lost Signal messages and sanctions
In a separate September 11 ruling under Rule 37(e), the court found Evans deliberately deleted FEMA-related Signal messages despite preservation duties and shortened a FEMA 2.0 chat's auto-delete timer in March 2026 after litigation discovery orders. The court authorized an adverse inference and fee remedies. The judge did not make the same finding of intent regarding Joseph Guy. Sources.
Current-status boundary
The September 2026 order notes Evans had stopped serving as FEMA's senior official performing administrator duties by May 2026. This is a documented historical period, not a claim that she remains FEMA administrator in November. Sources.
Primary court evidence
- September 11, 2026 court order, Document 491 — DHS and FEMA staffing decision
- September 11, 2026 court sanctions ruling, Document 490 — deleted Signal communications
Evidence note: Findings of fact in a civil judgment, testimony quoted by a court, evidentiary sanctions, and unproved connections to other public officials are separate. This entry does not allege liability beyond the specific ruling.