FEMA search and rescue chief resigns, following deadly Texas floods
The head of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue branch, Ken Pagurek, resigned on Monday, multiple sources told ABC News.
Pagurek told colleagues he was frustrated by the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to dismantle FEMA and by new hurdles that slowed the agency's response to the catastrophic flooding in central Texas, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Sources said he pointed to a new DHS policy requiring all spending over $100,000 to be personally approved by Secretary Kristi Noem as a key factor behind the delays and ultimately his decision to step down.
Pagurek, who did not respond for a request for comment, had worked with FEMA's search and rescue operations for more than a decade and had served as chief for the past year.
CNN first reported his departure.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security dismissed the allegations made by Pagurek.
"The attempt to spin a personal career decision into some big scandal is ridiculous. It is laughable that a career public employee, who claims to serve the American people, would choose to resign over our refusal to hastily approve a six-figure deployment contract without basic financial oversight," Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "If anyone is upset by the end of unchecked, blank-check spending under President Trump's administration, that says more about them than it does about us."

-ABC News' Will Steakin








