Overview
Head of FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery (appointed December 2025). Former top health official in Texas. Known for election fraud conspiracy theories amplified by Donald Trump. Generated headlines for claiming to have teleported to a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia on two occasions. Leads FEMA’s largest division with 1,000+ employees and a ~$300 million budget.
Key Facts
- Appointed December 2025 to head FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery No One at Waffle House Remembers FEMA Official Who Says He Teleported
- Previously known for election fraud conspiracy theories No One at Waffle House Remembers FEMA Official Who Says He Teleported
- Claimed on the “Onward” podcast to have been teleported to a Waffle House in Rome, GA on two occasions No One at Waffle House Remembers FEMA Official Who Says He Teleported
- Later attributed incident to cancer treatment medication and/or a miracle from God, using biblical terms “translated” or “transported” No One at Waffle House Remembers FEMA Official Who Says He Teleported
- CNN investigative report (March 2026) documented teleportation claims, violent rhetoric against Biden, and other conspiracy theories No One at Waffle House Remembers FEMA Official Who Says He Teleported
- None of ~24 Waffle House workers/regulars in Rome recognized his picture No One at Waffle House Remembers FEMA Official Who Says He Teleported
Newsletter Relevance
Phillips is a case study in Institutional Capture — appointing someone with conspiracy beliefs and no apparent disaster management credentials to run the federal government’s largest disaster response division. The stakes are not abstract: this office coordinates response to hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires affecting millions.
Connections
- Donald Trump — appointed by Trump; Trump amplified Phillips’s election fraud claims
- FEMA — heads the Office of Response and Recovery
- Kristi Noem — Phillips appointed under Noem’s tenure at DHS
Source Appearances
- No One at Waffle House Remembers FEMA Official Who Says He Teleported — primary subject
Open Questions
- What disaster response actions has Phillips actually taken since appointment?
- Has the office’s capacity or staffing changed under his leadership?
- What is Phillips’s actual background in emergency management, if any?