A Trump-appointed FEMA official who drew national attention after claiming he had teleported more than 50 miles to a Waffle House has now gone on leave from the agency, adding another unusual chapter to a story that has puzzled observers for months.
Gregg Phillips, who serves in FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery, is taking leave for what the agency described as “personal reasons.” The development comes after Phillips became the subject of widespread media coverage earlier this year when comments from a podcast interview resurfaced and spread across social media.
According to reporting cited by The Hill, a FEMA spokesperson confirmed Phillips’ leave and praised his work at the agency.
“Since joining the agency, he has played a pivotal role in stabilizing the Office of Response and Recovery and advancing key reforms to strengthen our mission delivery,” the spokesperson said.
The agency did not clarify whether the leave is temporary or permanent. FEMA also announced that David Arnold will serve in an acting leadership role to guide the office during the transition.
The Washington Post reported that Phillips’ departure was linked to concerns about public perception. A source familiar with the situation told the newspaper that he was asked to step down because of the attention surrounding his public comments.
Those comments stem from a podcast appearance in which Phillips discussed what he described as multiple experiences involving teleportation. During the interview, he claimed that one such event involved suddenly finding himself at a Waffle House located roughly 50 miles away from where he had been.
Needless to say, that is not the kind of story most Americans expect to hear from a senior federal disaster response official. FEMA is generally associated with hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and emergency preparedness, not discussions that sound like they were pulled from a late-night science fiction marathon.
The controversy eventually reached President Trump. In April, the president was asked about Phillips’ claims during a brief phone interview with CNN.
“What does teleport mean? Was he kidding?” President Trump responded.
The exchange quickly generated headlines of its own, largely because it reflected the confusion many people had after hearing Phillips’ remarks. While unusual statements from public officials often create a short-lived media frenzy, this story managed to stick around for months because of how bizarre the original claim was.
Phillips has long been known in political circles for his involvement in election-related investigations and allegations surrounding the 2020 election. His appointment to lead FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery placed him in a significant role overseeing disaster response efforts. However, the renewed focus on his podcast comments appears to have overshadowed much of that work.
For now, FEMA says Phillips is on leave for personal reasons, and agency operations will continue under acting leadership. Whether the leave becomes a permanent departure remains unclear. What is clear is that a claim involving teleportation, a Waffle House, and a senior federal official was always going to attract attention. Washington is no stranger to strange stories, but this one managed to set a remarkably high bar.
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