Several employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have filed whistleblower complaints after being put on administrative leave shortly after signing a public letter of dissent last week.

"I believe this is retaliatory behavior and is meant to silence and intimidate me and the rest of my coworkers," James Stroud, a statistician with FEMA, and among those who signed the letter and was subsequently placed on leave, told Newsweek .

"I won't be silenced and I will continue to fight for what's right."

Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA for comment via email.

Why It Matters

More than 190 current and former employees of FEMA signed the letter, titled the Katrina Declaration, criticizing cuts to the agency and warning that the agency r

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