Bush picks former firefighter as FEMA chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Bush on Thursday chose
acting Federal Emergency Management Agency director David
Paulison as permanent head of the embattled agency with
hurricane season two months away.

Paulison, 59, a veteran firefighter, was named acting
director of FEMA after Michael Brown resigned last September in
the face of bitter complaints about the federal government’s
bungled response to Hurricane Katrina.

The nomination requires Senate confirmation.

The New York Times reported on Sunday that Bush was turning
to Paulison after seven candidates for director or another top
FEMA job pulled themselves out of the running.

The candidates were said to be unconvinced that the
administration was serious about fixing FEMA or that there was
enough time to get it done before Bush’s second term ends.

The hurricane season starts on June 1.

The Times said that of the 30 most senior jobs at FEMA, 11
are filled by officials appointed on an acting basis. It said
that Kentucky Republican Rep. Harold Rogers, chairman of a
House subcommittee that oversees the Homeland Security
Department’s budget, had threatened last week to hold up action
on the budget bill until the top jobs at FEMA were filled.

The agency continues to face heavy criticism for its
rebuilding role after Katrina devastated New Orleans and killed
more than 1,300 people.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said on Monday he will urge
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to replace
the FEMA team in charge of setting up travel-trailer villages
that have sprung up to house residents whose homes were
damaged.

The demand was sparked by a weekend fracas during which
security guards threatened homeowners opposed to a temporary
housing site.