Federal Judge Rules Trump's Firing of FEMA CFO Was Illegal

A federal judge ruled on July 17, 2026, that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated Mary Comans, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), last year. The termination was linked to her approval of grant funding for migrant hotels. Comans filed a lawsuit in March 2025, claiming she was terminated without due process. U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff stated that the Supreme Court has established that the president does not have the authority to remove inferior officers without due process. Although the judge ordered a 'name-clearing' hearing for Comans, he did not reinstate her to her position. Comans's attorney, Mark Zaid, noted the significance of the ruling on social media. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had previously stated that Comans was part of a group of employees fired for making unauthorized payments related to housing illegal immigrants in New York City. Comans alleged that she was following directives from political appointees when she approved the funds, and she was terminated the day after she reversed the grant payments following public criticism.