Report: Brock Long from FEMA under investigation for government car abuse

As FEMA prepares to face another potentially devastating storm with Hurricane FlorenceAccording to Politico, the head of the agency, Brock Long, reportedly was the subject of an internal investigation for his alleged use of government cars on a personal basis.

Politico, citing three people familiar with the situation, reports that Long used the cars while traveling between his home in North Carolina and Washington and that the report from the inspector of the Department of Homeland Security is currently examining whether the funds from taxpayers. According to one official, during the long weekend spending in North Carolina, FEMA's helpers stayed at a local hotel at taxpayer expense.

In a statement to CBS News on Thursday, Jessica Nalepa, FEMA's Director of External Affairs, said: "Any questions regarding a particular investigation should be directed to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security. cooperate fully with any investigations conducted by the OIG DIG. "

Nalepa added that Long was now focusing on FEMA's work "to prepare for, respond to and recover from Hurricane Florence and other active tropical systems". She called Long "an experienced and respected emergency officer".

Pending the investigation, Long will join the long list of other Trump administration officials who have been subjected to scrutiny because of their questionable travel expenses as a Cabinet official. Scott Pruitt, former director of the EPA, old health and Secretary of Human Services Tom Priceformer Veterans Secretary David Shulkin and even the current Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, have all been criticized for using expensive or exorbitant trips during their stay in the administration.

Pruitt, Price and Shulkin were all eventually removed from office in the administration following a public outcry over the misuse of taxpayer funds.