FEMA's ‘Shadow Administrator’ Was Paid by a DOGE Member's Startup for Months
Details from recent court filings show that DOGE's influence within government—and potential conflicts of interest—extend further than previously known.
A former FEMA official, described as the "shadow administrator," was reportedly working for a company owned by a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) member, according to recent court filings. Kara Voorhies, a special government employee (SGE), was subcontracted by a company owned by Kyle Schutt, a DOGE operative, from fall 2025 to spring of this year.
Prior to her role in FEMA, Voorhies worked for Crest Investment Company and had no previous government experience. She was brought in to improve FEMA's efficiency, but struggled to define what that meant and was never given a formal job description. She reviewed memos accompanying contracts and grants above $100,000 and was involved in reviewing and terminating FEMA grants. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA, and Schutt did not respond to inquiries.
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