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FEMA official who claimed he teleported to Waffle House ousted from agency, sources say
By AP via Scripps News Group at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News
· June 26, 2026
· 2 min read
A top FEMA official who had drawn scrutiny for bizarre past remarks including claiming he teleported to a Waffle House has been pushed out of the agency, four sources tell CNN.White House officials appointed Gregg Phillips in December to lead FEMAs Office of Response and Recovery, one of the ag...
Key takeaway The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, confirmed Thursday that Phillips is leaving the agency, saying he is taking leave for personal reasons.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The departure of Gregg Phillips from FEMA has implications for Detroit , where the agency's Office of Response and Recovery plays a crucial role in disaster relief and mitigation efforts. As a city prone to severe weather events and flooding, Detroit relies on effective federal support to respond to and recover from disasters. Phillips' willingness to resist moves that would have hobbled FEMA's work may have been seen as a positive by some career officials, but his public image and inflammatory statements likely undermined the agency's credibility and effectiveness in the eyes of local leaders and residents. With new DHS leadership in place, it remains to be seen how Phillips' departure will impact FEMA's relationships with local governments and emergency management officials in Detroit and surrounding areas. The city's ability to respond to and recover from disasters depends on strong partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies, making the stability and leadership of FEMA a critical concern for Detroit's public safety and well-being.
About this story
Original reporting by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A top FEMA official who had drawn scrutiny for bizarre past remarks including claiming he teleported to a Waffle House has been pushed out of the agency, four sources tell CNN.White House officials appointed Gregg Phillips in December to lead FEMAs Office of Response and Recovery, one of the ag...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by AP via Scripps News Group at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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