local
FEMA official who claimed he teleported to Waffle House ousted from agency, sources say
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· June 25, 2026
· 2 min read
By Gabe Cohen, Andrew Kaczynski, CNN
(CNN) — 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 ...
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 El Paso
The departure of Gregg Phillips from FEMA may have implications for El Paso 's disaster response and recovery efforts. As a city prone to severe weather events and border-related emergencies, El Paso relies heavily on FEMA's support during times of crisis. Phillips' willingness to resist moves that would have hobbled the agency's work may have been seen as a positive by some career FEMA officials, but his public image and periodic clashes with department leaders ultimately led to his ousting. El Paso residents may wonder how the change in leadership will affect the city's ability to secure funding and resources for disaster relief. The city's experience with recent floods and storms has highlighted the importance of effective emergency management, and the new leadership at FEMA will be closely watched to see how they prioritize the needs of communities like El Paso.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso 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 25, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 2 min
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What is this story about? By Gabe Cohen, Andrew Kaczynski, CNN
(CNN) — 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 ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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