Cummings Releases New Documents Directly Contradicting President Trump’s Claims on Hurricane Response

Nov 29, 2018
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 29, 2018
 

 Cummings Releases New Documents Directly Contradicting President Trump’s Claims on Hurricane Response

Washington, D.C. (Nov. 29, 2018)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released new documents directly contradicting President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that his Administration’s response to the hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands was “unbelievable,” “amazing,” and “incredible.”

Cummings issued the following statement along with the new documents:

“When disaster strikes, the American people do not want politics—they want results.  They do not want posturing—they want leadership.  They do not want excuses—they want a nonpartisan, effective, and efficient response that saves lives.  For the past year, President Trump has been claiming that up is down and down is up.  The Trump Administration severely botched the response to the hurricanes and failed to learn the key lessons of Hurricane Katrina.  It is our job in Congress to hold these officials accountable and try to ensure that these same mistakes do not happen again.”

Cummings also released a document entitled, “Senior Leadership Briefing and Recovery Snapshots,” dated October 13, 2017, which states:  “Team Adam, which provides rapid, on-site assistance in serious missing children cases, reported shortfalls in four shelters they visited related to generator concerns, diesel fuel, and water shortages.” It is unclear whether the Administration provided assistance to help address these issues.

           

The document also raises questions about the contamination of the water supply in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  It provides results from the testing of 177 public water systems in St. Croix, finding that “32 of 47 systems that tested positive for E. Coli in remediation process.”  It is unclear what the Administration did to resolve these issues or inform the public. 

 

Click here to read an email exchange to a senior FEMA official.

Click here to read the senior leadership briefing notes.

Click here to read Ranking Member Cummings’ Opening Statement.

115th Congress