Brushing aside Justice Department objections, a federal judge ordered the release Monday of internal records of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem showing any involvement by her in employment decisions for federal disaster workers.
The order will require a search in the next week of Noem’s documents, emails, electronic communications such as Signal and electronic files.
It is the latest rebuke to the Trump administration in a lawsuit alleging that Noem illegally did not renew the employment of more than 100 contract employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
A coalition of federal labor unions, advocacy groups and cities suing the administration says the nonrenewals in January were done by Noem in violation of federal law giving FEMA control over its personnel. President Donald Trump fired Noem last week though she will remain in office until March 31.
