FEMA Administrator Brock Long resigns

Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, announced his resignation Wednesday, ending his tenure after responding to some of the worst storms and wildfires to hit the United States in modern history but also coming under scrutiny for his use of official vehicles.

“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 said in a statement. “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.”

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Long, appointed by President Donald Trump, oversaw the administration during violent hurricane seasons that battered Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas and during some of the worst forest fires in California history. FEMA’s slow response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico became a point of fierce criticism against Trump and his administration.

Long also came under criticism for his personal use of official cars to commute between Washington and North Carolina. He reimbursed the government after a federal investigation found he misused the government vehicles.

The episode caused tension between Long and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, prompting the secretary to confront Long over his car use. Accounts of the meeting disagreed on whether Nielsen asked Long to consider resigning. The confrontation, first reported by POLITICO, happened as the administration prepared for the 2018 hurricane season, which was under scrutiny following the public relations disaster after the response to Hurricane Maria the year before.

Wednesday’s resignation announcement caught at least one official in the administration off guard, who said, “I’m shocked.”

“This comes as a complete surprise,” the FEMA official told POLITICO.

Long did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Deputy Administrator Peter Gaynor will serve as acting administrator after Long’s departure. Long plans to leave around March 8, according to a FEMA official.

Long’s is the latest departure of a senior official from the Trump administration, which has had a particularly high turnover. In the past few months alone, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Defense Secretary James Mattis willingly left their posts and White House chief of staff John Kelly was ousted. While those departures featured dramas of their own, Long‘s announcement cast his decision in cordial terms.

“It has been a great honor to serve our country as FEMA Administrator for the past two years,“ Long wrote. “President Trump, Vice President [Mike] Pence and Secretary Nielsen have been extremely supportive of me, the FEMA workforce and our mission.“

Daniel Lippman contributed to this report.