Norton Presses DHS Inspector General on Federal Government’s Shamefully Slow Response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today at an Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) hearing questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General John Roth regarding the federal government's slow response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricane Maria, which made landfall there eight weeks ago. DHS has jurisdiction over the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has responsibility for disaster response. Norton requested that the committee subpoena documents regarding the Administration's response to Hurricane Maria because the White House is withholding information from Congress and the public.

Norton first asked Roth what grade, from one to 10, he would give the Administration for its hurricane response. Roth said his office is currently looking into that very issue and to assess how the situation has been handled.

Norton raised serious concerns about the future of disaster responses after the allegations surrounding a $300 million contract with Whitefish Energy, which had only two employees when Hurricane Maria made landfall. She asked Roth if there are any measures in place to flag such an inappropriate selection, emphasizing that the contract was ultimately canceled due to press reports and ensuing public outcry, not because of executive or congressional oversight. Roth said there is an ongoing investigation led by federal auditors into FEMA's involvement in the contract selection process in Puerto Rico.

Norton said after there was an eight-day delay in appointing a three-star general to lead recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, now, to make matters worse, Lt. General Jeffrey Buchanan is already being withdrawn, along with his military equipment, despite his acknowledgement that "people still need help." Norton asked Roth how Buchanan's withdrawal is justified and whether his office is looking into the military's decision to withdraw. Roth said he would take Norton's request into account as he examines the role DHS played in the decision to withdraw Buchanan and military equipment.