FEMA leader formerly in charge of NM wildfire fund defends six-figure payout

Jay Mitchell tells Source NM he is leaving the office after five months of paid administrative leave.

By: Patrick Lohmann

Outlets: Source New Mexico

Published: June 12, 2026

Words: 889

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

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Jay Mitchell, the federal official placed on leave in February following revelations that he and his wife accepted more than $500,000 in payments from a multi-billion-dollar wildfire compensation fund he oversaw, is no longer a Federal Emergency Management Agency employee after he and the agency “mutually agreed” this week not to extend his contract, Mitchell told Source NM.

Mitchell is leaving the agency nearly five months after FEMA placed him on paid administrative leave …

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