RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) 鈥� The top official for North Carolina's efforts to rebuild communities after natural disasters is no longer working in the position just a few days after a scathing rebuke of her work from GOP state lawmakers.
Laura Hogshead, who served as the office's chief operating officer for the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency since 2018, was no longer employed within the state's Department of Public Safety as of Wednesday, according to Janet Kelly-Scholle, the office's public information officer.
Her exit from the position comes after Monday while the office sought more state money for projects dealing with two hurricanes from several years ago. Weary of the office's ability to handle , Republican legislators directed much of their ire toward Hogshead's leadership and called on her to resign.
The governor鈥檚 office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Hogshead鈥檚 departure.
Taking Hogshead's place in the interim is Pryor Gibson, a legislative lobbyist for Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and a former state representative. He was also questioned alongside Hogshead on Monday by state legislators on the office's budgetary problems.
Cooper , also known as ReBuild NC, as a way to improve infrastructure in eastern North Carolina after it was hit by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018 鈥� the two storms the office has been plagued by criticism for.
What was initially reported this fall as a $175 million shortfall for ongoing housing projects in the eastern part of the state grew to a request of more than $220 million at Monday鈥檚 hearing. The money will go to the state鈥檚 , which offers to 鈥渞epair, rebuild, replace or elevate homes鈥� of applicants affected by Matthew and Florence, according to ReBuild NC鈥檚 website.
During Monday鈥檚 hearing, Hogshead admitted fault in some of the office鈥檚 budget issues, such as keeping up with encumbrances 鈥� commitments to pay for future services like contracted work. She told the panel she 鈥渟hould have been watching more carefully.鈥�
鈥淲e do have money that we can move within our model. What we鈥檙e saying to you all is, we can move money but we have to break commitments,鈥� Hogshead said.
Republican Rep. Brenden Jones asked Hogshead during the hearing if she would resign from her role, but she refused.
The General Assembly to Cooper鈥檚 desk on Wednesday that allocated another $50 million to the recovery office to address the Homeowner Recovery Program shortfall. That would bring to what the legislature has agreed to provide the program since last month.
But this week鈥檚 measure also ordered the State Auditor鈥檚 Office to conduct a financial and performance audit of the recovery office by July, and for state budget staff to perform ongoing financial monitoring. Rep. Destin Hall, who is the Republicans鈥� choice to become the next House speaker early next year, told reporters this week to expect 鈥渨holesale reform鈥� of the office after describing their work in eastern North Carolina as a 鈥渄isgrace.鈥�
The office needs at least $40 million monthly for the next three months to narrow its funding gap, Gibson told lawmakers on Monday. Without the necessary funds, the program may be forced to pause projects in eastern North Carolina, he said.
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Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
Makiya Seminera, The Associated Press
