Court filings indicate that Kara Voorhies, a FEMA contractor described as the agency’s “shadow administrator”, was subcontracted by a company owned by DOGE operative Kyle Schutt while working in government. The arrangement raises questions about conflicts of interest and whether an outside contractor exercised influence over FEMA spending and grant decisions that may be considered inherently governmental functions.

Voorhies joined DHS in April 2025 without previous government experience and was not paid directly by the government; special government employees face fewer disclosure requirements and may work up to 130 days annually. She said she reviewed contract and grant memos exceeding $100,000 and helped review and terminate grants, while denying decision-making authority; Democratic lawmakers have alleged she had unusually broad power over contracts, grants and punishment of entities. DHS, Voorhies and Schutt did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.