FEMA in-person classes will resume in Emmitsburg
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the decision in a press release on Thursday.
In-person training was paused in March — though some online classes continued — in response to President Donald Trump's Executive Order that implemented the 'Department of Government Efficiency.'
The executive order called for a review of contracts, policies and practices at federal agencies, in an effort to 'ensure Government spending is transparent and Government employees are accountable to the American public.'
The training facilities reopened after a comprehensive review by FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration determined that in-person courses provided effective training, according to the release.
'FEMA's principles for emergency management assert that disasters are best managed when they're federally supported, state managed and locally executed,' the press release said.
Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis said Thursday that he was not surprised by that outcome given his relationships with staff including Superintendent Eriks Gabliks.
'I was positive that they were going to find everything in good shape,' Davis said.
Spokespeople for the training facilities and FEMA could not be reached by phone for comment on Thursday.
Despite in-person classes being cancelled, the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend was held at the National Emergency Training Center as planned earlier this month.
Davis said that given what a hub of activity the academies provide the town, with visitors eating in local restaurants and shopping locally, the announcement will 'make a good weekend for' the business community as it looks forward to the resumption.
Chris Wilson, daytime manager at the Ott House, said the news was great, not just for the bar and restaurant, but for the entire Emmitsburg community.
'Things have been kind of quiet,' Wilson said.
She added that the bar and restaurant has been getting by just fine, saying the Ott House is 'here for everybody.'
The walls and bar top at the Ott House are covered in patches, helmets and other items from fire departments and other emergency responders from across the country.
Wilson said owners Bob Ott and Susie Glass have estimated that around 30% of the bar's business comes from the academy.
'We're glad to have them back,' Wilson said. 'We missed them.'
Davis added that having the town's largest water customer back online helps the town with budgetary concerns.
'Also, we're going to be reaching out to them in the near future to help us with our disaster preparedness program — we need to have that updated and we're going to be looking for help from them with that,' he said. 'So it's really good news for us.'
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The Hill
17 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump, Putin meet in Alaska
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Newsweek
18 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Mary Trump Warns Uncle's Latest Moves Pose 'Unique Threat' to US Future
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Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump order zeroes in on payments
This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: In an executive order issued last week, President Donald Trump took aim at payments services, among other financial services provided by banks. He demanded that financial institutions not deny consumers access to payments services, and related services, based on their political views. The executive order issued Aug. 7 mandates that federal banking regulators should identify consumers to whom financial institutions may have denied payment processing services by way of a 'politicized or unlawful debanking action.' The order also requires that alleged victims of discrimination be notified and given the opportunity to receive the services they were denied. The order alleged that financial institutions had previously 'engaged in unacceptable practices' to interfere with individuals and businesses seeking to make payments. For instance, people were flagged in the past if they 'made peer-to-peer payments that involved terms like 'Trump' or 'MAGA,' even though there was no specific evidence tying those individuals to criminal conduct,' the order said. Dive Insight: Trump's executive order signals his concerns regarding anti-conservative bias in the U.S. financial system. As a result, banking regulators will spend the coming months combing through alleged incidents of discrimination on the basis of political affiliation and religion. In a CNBC interview days before Trump issued the executive order, the president accused JPMorgan Chase of dropping him as a client and alleged that Bank of America declined to take him on as a customer. Earlier this year, one of the president's sons, Eric Trump, and four other Trump corporate entities filed a lawsuit against credit card giant Capital One regarding the company's takeover of hundreds of Trump bank accounts in June 2021. The lawsuit alleged the financial institution debanked the plaintiffs' accounts because 'Capital One believed that the political tide at the moment favored doing so.' Trump's executive order also requires federal banking regulators to review their current complaint data to find financial firms that have 'engaged in unlawful debanking on the basis of religion' and refer such incidents to the U.S. attorney general for 'appropriate civil action.' 'Bank regulators have used supervisory scrutiny and other influence over regulated banks to direct or otherwise encourage politicized or unlawful debanking activities,' Trump said in the executive order. ''Operation Chokepoint,' for example, was a well-documented and systemic means by which Federal regulators pushed banks to minimize their involvement with individuals and companies engaged in lawful activities and industries disfavored by regulators based on factors other than individualized, objective, risk-based standards.' Recommended Reading Trump Organization lawsuit raises questions about Capital One-Discover deal
