Brown replaced by Coast Guard honcho:
Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown is being removed from his role in managing the Bush administration’s Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and is returning to Washington.
Brown, who has been under fire for the federal government’s slow response to the storm that devastated much of the Gulf Coast region, will be replaced by Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad W. Allen, who was overseeing New Orleans relief and rescue efforts.
Asked if he was being made a scapegoat for a federal relief effort that has drawn widespread and sharp criticism, Brown told The Associated Press after a long pause: ”By the press, yes. By the president, No.”
I don’t know what practical effect, if any, this will have on the relief efforts, but it will ease some of the political tensions.
*As a bizarre side note, one of my friends growing up was Thad Allen (he is now a minister somewhere), but it just feels weird hearing his name even though it has been close to 15 years. Of course, it is a different Thad Allen, but still.