Michael D. Brown

Michael D. Brown is an American attorney and former federal official recognized for his tenure as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President George W. Bush. Brown served as FEMA administrator, overseeing the agency’s operations, including management of a $7 billion budget and a workforce of 2,600 employees. Before joining FEMA, Brown practiced law in Colorado and Oklahoma, serving as a bar examiner on ethics and professional responsibility for the Oklahoma Supreme Court and as a hearing examiner for the Colorado Supreme Court.

Brown began his federal emergency management career as FEMA’s general counsel and advanced to acting deputy director following the September 11 attacks. He was nominated as the first Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Department of Homeland Security. At the White House, Brown served on the Consequence Management Committee and the National Security Council’s Deputies Committee, contributing to homeland security policy and emergency preparedness.

During Hurricane Katrina, Brown was named the Principal Federal Official and placed in charge of the federal government’s response. He was later relieved of on-site relief duties and subsequently resigned. The federal response to Hurricane Katrina became a focal point in discussions about crisis management and the structure of federal emergency management. Brown has since become a prominent voice in debates about the role and organization of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security.

Brown has addressed the criticism of his FEMA leadership, noting that it provides insight into government failures. He details his experiences in the book, "Deadly Indifference: The Perfect (Political) Storm: Hurricane Katrina, The Bush White House, and Beyond," and has argued for broader federal disaster funding and for FEMA’s independence from the Department of Homeland Security.

Following his resignation, Brown has worked as an author, consultant, and radio talk-show host. He hosts "The Michael Brown Show," broadcast on radio stations in Colorado and available nationwide online. Brown’s career spans federal law, emergency management, homeland security, and media, offering perspective on government accountability, crisis communication, and public policy.