Gregg Phillips, a FEMA official appointed in December, has been pushed out of the agency, four sources tell CNN. He drew national attention after CNN in March reported on outlandish podcast remarks, including his claim that he "teleported" to a Waffle House. DHS says Phillips is taking leave for personal reasons, but sources say new DHS leadership forced the departure amid embarrassment and repeated internal clashes.
FEMA Official Gregg Phillips Ousted After 'Teleportation' Claim, Sources Say
Office of Response and Recovery Director Gregg Phillips attends a news conference in the National Response Coordination Center at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters on January 24, 2026. - Al Drago/Getty Images
A senior FEMA official who drew national attention for a string of unusual public remarks — including a claim that he "teleported" to a Waffle House — has been pushed out of the agency, four sources told CNN.
What Happened
White House officials appointed Gregg Phillips to a senior role at the Federal Emergency Management Agency in December. Phillips, who previously promoted election-related conspiracy theories after the 2020 election, faced heightened scrutiny in March when CNN published a collection of outlandish comments from his appearances on right-wing podcasts, among them the teleportation claim.
Agency Response
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, confirmed Thursday that Phillips is leaving the agency and said he is taking leave for personal reasons. But multiple sources told CNN the departure was not voluntary: they said new DHS leadership had grown increasingly concerned by the embarrassment those comments caused and by Phillips' periodic clashes with agency leaders over priorities and messaging.
Four sources told CNN that the ouster followed internal friction and concern about the public scrutiny surrounding Phillips' past statements.
Context
The episode highlights tensions that can arise when political appointees with controversial public records are placed in high-profile federal posts. DHS and FEMA officials have not publicly disputed the timeline reported by CNN, and the agency described Phillips' status only as leave for personal reasons.
What remains unclear: whether Phillips will return to the agency, whether his leave will be extended, and whether there will be any formal personnel action beyond his departure from active duty at FEMA.
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