FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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GAO Report: DHS, FEMA Disaster
Recovery Contracting Process Needs Major Fixes
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April 25, 2019 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G.
Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced
the release of a new
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the DHS and
FEMA contracting process for disaster recovery efforts.
The report, entitled “Actions Needed to Improve the Use
of Post-Disaster Contracts to Support Response and Recovery” found that:
Chairman Thompson released the following statement on the
report:
“This GAO report makes clear that the federal
government still has work to do when it comes to contracting for disaster
recovery and response efforts. Spending on disaster contracts lacks
much-needed transparency – taxpayers need to know what they’re funding to
provide survivors assistance in the aftermath of a disaster. The GAO
also found that disaster recovery contracting is not locally focused, so
businesses feeling the pain of loss after a disaster are often not given the
chance to help rehabilitate their community and restart their business.
“The GAO report also highlights how FEMA is still
undergoing serious staffing challenges that need to be addressed by the
Administration. As we are about to enter the 2019 hurricane season, I
urge DHS and FEMA to promptly fill these important vacancies and follow
through on the GAO’s recommendations that will increase productivity and
transparency in the disaster response and recovery process.”
Following the release of the report, Chairman Thompson
sent a
letter to Acting FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor to demand answers
about the large slate of vacancies in FEMA’s contracting workforce.
# # #
Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
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Thursday, April 25, 2019
GAO Report: DHS, FEMA Disaster Recovery Contracting Process Needs Major Fixes
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