Gregg Phillips, a far-right activist linked to the discredited "2000 Mules" project, has led FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery since late last year without Senate confirmation. CNN reported that Phillips claims to have been involuntarily "teleported," including an incident in which he said he ended up at a Waffle House about 50 miles away, and he has reiterated those claims. President Trump asked, "What does teleport mean?" and said he would investigate after being told Phillips was serious. The White House reportedly urged DHS to remove Phillips or limit his public exposure amid concerns about his suitability for a role overseeing search-and-rescue, emergency aid and billions in disaster assistance.
Pressed on Controversial FEMA Official, Trump Asks: “What Does Teleport Mean?”
Gregg Phillips, associate administrator of the Office of Response and Recovery at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. The oversight hearing is meant to examine the impacts of a potential Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. Photographer: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images(Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Even before recent revelations, Gregg Phillips was an ill-suited choice for a senior role at a federal agency. A far-right activist and vocal election skeptic, Phillips has promoted debunked conspiracy theories, used violent rhetoric about political opponents and played a central role in the discredited "2000 Mules" project.
Despite that record, Phillips was appointed late last year to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Office of Response and Recovery, a presidential appointment that did not require Senate confirmation. That office makes operational decisions affecting search-and-rescue efforts, emergency aid, infrastructure restoration and the distribution of billions in disaster assistance.
In late March, CNN reported that Phillips has repeatedly claimed he was involuntarily "teleported," including one episode in which he said he awoke in a Waffle House roughly 50 miles from his prior location. "Teleporting is no fun," Phillips said on a podcast last year. A follow-up CNN report said he continued to insist the incidents actually occurred.
CNN's reporting — which MS NOW notes has not been independently verified by that outlet — prompted public attention and internal White House concern. In a brief cellphone interview with CNN this week, President Donald Trump asked, "What does teleport mean? Was he kidding?" When told Phillips was not joking, Trump said: "I don't know anything about teleporting. ... It just sounds a little strange, but I know nothing about teleporting or him, but I'll find out about it right now."
The White House reportedly contacted the Department of Homeland Security and urged officials to either remove Phillips or keep him out of public view. For additional context, Phillips had originally been scheduled to testify at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing about a partial DHS shutdown two weeks earlier, but his name was removed from the witness list before the hearing.
Phillips' combination of controversial political activity and extraordinary personal claims has raised concern inside and outside the government about his fitness to hold a post with significant operational and financial responsibility. Administration officials are reportedly weighing options, and it remains unclear whether he will be reassigned, removed or kept in place behind the scenes.
The media has responded with a mix of scrutiny and sardonic commentary — "Will Phillips soon be teleported to some other job?" — but the real question for officials is whether his continued presence in a senior FEMA role undermines public confidence or agency operations.
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