FEMA Appoints Interim Director After Wildfire Claim Controversy

Nancy Casper takes over federal recovery effort following 4 Investigates report on questionable payments to previous leadership.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has appointed Nancy Casper as the interim director of the claims office overseeing more than $5 billion in wildfire relief funds in New Mexico. This change comes after a 4 Investigates report revealed the previous leadership team received and appeared to fast-track six-figure claim payments to themselves.

Why it matters

The appointment of Casper, an experienced FEMA official, aims to restore trust and ensure remaining funds reach those impacted by the wildfires. The previous leadership's actions raised concerns about the integrity of the claims process and the transparency of FEMA's operations.

The details

Casper, who has 18 years of FEMA experience and has managed 40 disaster declarations, addressed the Mora County Commissioners directly, promising transparency and a focus on finding solutions for wildfire victims. State emergency managers expressed hope that communication with FEMA will improve under Casper's leadership. However, questions remain about the amount of money left for victims and the potential closure of the Mora claims office to cut administrative costs.

  • The largest wildfire in New Mexico state history occurred nearly four years ago.
  • Casper was appointed as interim director following the 4 Investigates report, which was published on February 24, 2026.

The players

Nancy Casper

An experienced FEMA official with 18 years of experience, who has now been appointed as the interim director of the federal recovery effort in New Mexico.

Jay Mitchell

The former director of the FEMA claims office, who received six-figure claim payments for business interruptions and smoke and ash clean up.

Jennifer Carbajal

The former deputy director of the FEMA claims office, who also received six-figure claim payments.

Ali Rye

The New Mexico Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, who expressed hope that communication with FEMA will improve under Casper's leadership.

Mora County Commissioners

The local government officials who Casper addressed directly, promising transparency and a focus on finding solutions for wildfire victims.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not here to make excuses, I'm not here to tell you to hurry up and wait. I'm not here for any of that. I'm here to find solutions to problems. I'm here to move things and here to find resolution to the extent that we can find resolution for the folks that have been impacted.”

— Nancy Casper, Interim Director, FEMA Claims Office (Mora County Commissioners meeting)

“If you would have asked me [if I think communication with FEMA will be better] two or three months ago, I wouldn't have been hopeful. I'm hopeful.”

— Ali Rye, New Mexico Secretary, Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (State emergency managers meeting)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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