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FEMA Official Gregg Phillips Under Scrutiny for Teleportation Claims and History of Misconduct
Gregg Phillips, the second-highest ranking official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), faces mounting criticism for bizarre claims of teleportation, adding to concerns about his qualifications and past controversies.
Phillips, who was appointed in December to lead FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery—which oversees a budget of nearly $300 million—has recently garnered attention after claiming in podcast interviews that he was involuntarily teleported on two separate occasions. In one instance, he alleged his body was transported to a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia, while in another, he claimed both he and his vehicle were teleported to a ditch near a church, approximately 40 to 50 miles from his original location.
When pressed about these statements, Phillips later attempted to clarify by suggesting that “teleport” might not be the most accurate description. “The more accurate biblical terms are ‘translated’ or ‘transported’—not new ideas for people of faith,” he explained. The New York Times investigated these claims by sending a reporter to all three Waffle House locations in Rome, Georgia, where employees and regular customers expressed skepticism. “I’ve seen it all, but I’ve never seen that,” one source told the newspaper.
More concerning than these unusual assertions is Phillips’ complete lack of emergency management experience and his checkered professional history. His appointment appears to reflect the Trump administration’s prioritization of loyalty over competence, particularly for individuals who supported claims that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.
Phillips gained prominence in right-wing circles for his work with True the Vote, a nonprofit organization that promoted unfounded allegations that President Joe Biden’s victory resulted from 3 to 5 million non-citizens voting illegally. These claims formed the basis for the conspiracy film “2000 Mules,” which was widely screened in churches and broadcast on Christian television networks before Salem Media Group withdrew it from distribution in 2024.
The film’s withdrawal came after a lawsuit from Mark Andrews, a Black man from Georgia who was falsely depicted as one of the voting “mules.” Despite grossing over $10 million and spawning a companion book, Salem made no effort to publicly acknowledge the film’s inaccuracies through its media outlets.
Phillips’ history of alleged misconduct extends beyond election misinformation. He previously held positions leading human service programs in both Mississippi and Texas, but departed both roles in less than two years following allegations of mismanagement of welfare funds and investigations into government contracts awarded to his own companies.
At True the Vote, Phillips and fellow organization leader Catherine Engelbrecht reportedly had an affair and were accused of misusing organizational funds for personal expenses. Both spent a week in jail after being held in contempt for refusing to identify the source of their election misinformation—which ultimately proved nonexistent.
In 2022, Phillips and Engelbrecht attempted to raise $25 million for a “Freedom Hospital” in Ukraine to serve war victims. Despite claiming to have raised over $10 million, no hospital materialized. According to investigations by ProPublica and the Dallas Morning News, Phillips continued fundraising efforts even after the project had been abandoned, stating: “The Freedom Hospital is my commitment to God come to life.”
Phillips’ appointment comes at a critical time for FEMA, which has faced significant challenges under the current administration. President Trump has proposed cutting the agency’s funding and has expressed interest in eliminating it entirely, transferring disaster response responsibilities to individual states. Currently, twelve states have filed lawsuits against FEMA over policy changes that have substantially reduced the flow of grant money.
The controversy surrounding Phillips exemplifies broader concerns about appointing unqualified officials based on political loyalty rather than relevant expertise, particularly in agencies responsible for crucial public services like emergency management and disaster response.
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18 Comments
Hmm, this is quite troubling. A FEMA official making such fantastical claims and spreading election misinformation – not a good look at all. Competence and credibility should be the priority.
Extraordinary claims from a FEMA official about teleportation and election misinformation? That’s quite concerning and erodes public trust in the agency’s ability to effectively respond to emergencies.
Absolutely. FEMA leadership should be above reproach and laser-focused on facts, not promoting unsubstantiated stories that could undermine their crucial mission.
This is concerning. Promoting election falsehoods and now bizarre teleportation stories – how can the public have confidence in FEMA’s disaster response capabilities under this leadership?
You’re right, transparency and credibility are paramount for government agencies tasked with emergency management. These allegations merit thorough investigation.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Mr. Phillips’ teleportation stories raise serious questions about his judgment and fitness for such an important FEMA role.
Indeed, officials in sensitive government positions should avoid making unsubstantiated supernatural claims that could undermine public trust.
Teleportation and election falsehoods from a FEMA official? That’s deeply concerning. The public needs to have confidence in the agency’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
Exactly. Bizarre supernatural stories and spreading misinformation erode that crucial public trust. FEMA leadership should be laser-focused on facts and their core mission.
Promoting false election narratives and now bizarre teleportation stories – not a good look for a senior FEMA official. The public deserves credible, fact-based leadership in emergency management.
Agreed. FEMA plays a vital role, so it’s crucial their leadership be beyond reproach and focused on their core mission, not unsubstantiated claims.
This is rather concerning. I hope the authorities investigate these claims thoroughly and ensure FEMA is led by competent, ethical individuals who can effectively respond to disasters.
Hmm, a FEMA official making unverified teleportation claims on top of a history of spreading election falsehoods? That’s deeply troubling and calls into question their judgment and fitness for the role.
Hmm, a FEMA official making dubious supernatural claims is quite troubling. Shouldn’t leaders in such critical roles be above reproach and firmly grounded in facts?
Absolutely. Maintaining public trust should be the top priority, not spreading unverified stories that could sow confusion during emergencies.
A FEMA official making dubious teleportation stories and peddling election misinformation? That’s very concerning and undermines public confidence in the agency’s disaster response capabilities.
Agreed. FEMA leadership should be grounded in facts, transparency and ethics – not fantastical claims that could sow confusion during crises.
Unsubstantiated teleportation claims and a history of spreading election falsehoods – this FEMA official’s conduct raises serious red flags. Rigorous oversight is needed to ensure proper leadership.