FEMA Official Who Claimed Teleportation Continues to Draw Salary
Gregg Phillips, a FEMA official known for baseless teleportation claims, remains on the federal payroll despite a reported ouster in June. He is on administrative leave with full pay, according to the White House. Phillips recently posted on Truth Social about his imminent departure and met with a Trump ally.
Phillips has a lengthy history of promoting unverified election claims, including a 2016 assertion that millions of non-citizens voted illegally. His affiliated group, True the Vote, supplied data for the discredited film "2000 Mules," and a 2022 investigation found the organization raised millions from donors while failing to produce evidence of fraud, with funds flowing to Phillips-controlled companies.
Despite having no emergency management background, Phillips was appointed to lead FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery in December. He has not appeared at FEMA headquarters since June, yet remains on administrative leave with full pay and benefits. His recent Truth Social posts suggest an imminent departure, and he was photographed meeting with Ed Martin at a Department of Justice building.
This story may raise concerns about government accountability and the use of taxpayer funds, as a federal official with no relevant experience and a record of baseless claims continues drawing a full salary while on leave. It could also affect public trust in FEMA's operations during disaster response, and may fuel broader debates about political appointments and whether administrative leave is being used appropriately in the current administration.