New interim director of wildfire claims office arrives in NM as FEMA funding lapses

Payments to fire victims have been halted due to the partial government shutdown, employees told SourceNM.

By: Patrick Lohmann

Outlets: Source New Mexico

Published: February 24, 2026

Words: 840

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 2 days ago

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has quietly appointed an interim director of a multi-billion-dollar compensation fund for victims ofNew Mexico’s largest wildfire.

Longtime FEMA official Nancy Casper’s appointment comes at a rocky time for the agency and the fund for victims of the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire. The former head of the fund is on leave following revelations he received a six-figure payout for damage to his home that was far from …

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