FEMA Administrator Brock Long Resigns; Gaynor to Take Over Duties

FEMA Administrator Brock Long announced his resignation today, stating that while “this has been the opportunity of the lifetime, it is time for me to go home to my family – my beautiful wife and two incredible boys.”

Long, who was confirmed to the position in June 2017, said in a statement that “it has been a great honor to serve our country as FEMA Administrator for the past two years,” during which FEMA addressed more than 220 declared disasters.

“President Trump, Vice President Pence and Secretary Nielsen have been extremely supportive of me, the FEMA workforce and our mission,” Long said. “The president and his entire administration provided unprecedented support to the agency as we led the nation through the historic 2017 hurricane and wildfire season. With this administration’s leadership, we also improved and transformed the field of emergency management through the enactment of our Agency’s Strategic Plan and partnership with Congress on the passage of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA).”

“As a career emergency management professional, I could not be prouder to have worked alongside the devoted, hardworking men and women of FEMA for the past two years.”

Long did not say what his last day would be, but noted that upon his departure Deputy Administrator Peter Gaynor, the former director of Rhode Island’s Emergency Management Agency confirmed to his FEMA role in October, will serve as acting FEMA administrator. “I leave knowing the agency is in good hands,” Long said.

Long had reportedly been under investigation by the inspector general since last year for his travel expenses: namely, the use of government vehicles on his commute between D.C. and his North Carolina home.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement that Long “has admirably led the men and women of FEMA during very difficult, historic and complex times.”

“Under Brock’s leadership, FEMA has successfully supported state- and territory-led efforts to respond and recover from six major hurricanes, five historic wildfires and dozens of other serious emergencies,” she said. “I appreciate his tireless dedication to FEMA and his commitment to fostering a culture of preparedness across the nation.”

Nielsen added, “Rest assured, FEMA is prepared to continue to lead current recovery efforts, to respond to new disasters, and to get ready for this year’s hurricane season.”

Bridget Johnson

Bridget Johnson is the Managing Editor for Homeland Security Today. A veteran journalist whose news articles and analyses have run in dozens of news outlets across the globe, Bridget first came to Washington to be online editor and a foreign policy writer at The Hill. Previously she was an editorial board member at the Rocky Mountain News and syndicated nation/world news columnist at the Los Angeles Daily News. Bridget is a terrorism analyst and security consultant with a specialty in online open-source extremist propaganda, incitement, recruitment, and training. She hosts and presents in Homeland Security Today law enforcement training webinars studying a range of counterterrorism topics including conspiracy theory extremism, complex coordinated attacks, critical infrastructure attacks, arson terrorism, drone and venue threats, antisemitism and white supremacists, anti-government extremism, and WMD threats. She is a Senior Risk Analyst for Gate 15 and a private investigator. Bridget is an NPR on-air contributor and has contributed to USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, New York Observer, National Review Online, Politico, New York Daily News, The Jerusalem Post, The Hill, Washington Times, RealClearWorld and more, and has myriad television and radio credits including Al-Jazeera, BBC and SiriusXM.

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