{
  "id": 652034,
  "title": "FEMA's ‘Shadow Administrator’ Was Paid by a DOGE Member's Startup for Months",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/femas-shadow-administrator-was-paid-by-a-doge-members-startup-for",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-12T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Wired",
    "slug": "wired",
    "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/femas-shadow-administrator-was-paid-by-a-doge-members-startup-for-months/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Details from recent court filings show that DOGE's influence within government—and potential conflicts of interest—extend further than previously known.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kara Voorhies, former FEMA official, worked for Kyle Schutt's startup",
    "Subcontracted from fall 2025 to spring 2026",
    "Struggled to define FEMA efficiency improvement"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This arrangement raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and undue influence within FEMA, as a government official was paid by a company linked to a government efficiency department member.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}