Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long improperly used government vehicles to return home to North Carolina, but will not be fired over it, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Friday.
Long had been under investigation by the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security over his use of government vehicles while traveling to North Carolina from Washington.
The head of the federal disaster response agency came under scrutiny as Hurricane Florence was barreling toward the Carolinas last week.
Upon reviewing the inspector general report, Nielsen said she had discussed Long’s use of government vehicles without proper authorization with him, and the administrator “acknowledged that mistakes were made.”
Nielsen said she also directed Long to reimburse the government.
“I appreciate Administrator Long and the entire FEMA staff’s continued professional focus on their mission during this investigation and have full confidence in their ability to continue to perform,” Nielsen said in a statement.
Long said in a statement that he “accepts full responsibility” and he and Nielsen “are taking corrective action to prevent such mistakes from happening in the future.”
