By It’s a scandal that would be shocking if it weren’t so predictable. A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials have been removed from their position after instructing disaster relief workers responding to recent hurricanes in Florida to bypass homes displaying support for President-elect Donald Trump.
Internal communications, first obtained by The Daily Wire, revealed that a FEMA official instructed field workers to avoid the homes of Republicans who needed disaster relief.
A FEMA supervisor told workers in a message to “avoid homes advertising Trump” as they canvassed Lake Placid, Florida to identify residents who could qualify for federal aid, internal messages viewed by The Daily Wire reveal. The supervisor, Marn’i Washington, relayed this message both verbally and in a group chat used by the relief team, multiple government employees told The Daily Wire.
The government employees told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes with Trump signs or flags were skipped from the end of October and into November due to the guidance, meaning they were not given the opportunity to qualify for FEMA assistance. Images shared with The Daily Wire show that houses were skipped over by the workers, who wrote in the government system messages such as: “Trump sign no entry per leadership.”
It is unclear whether the same guidance was issued elsewhere in the country. The employees were part of a Department of Homeland Security surge capacity force team, meaning they volunteered from other DHS agencies to help an understaffed FEMA as it dealt with a second major hurricane in a span of just a few weeks.
“I know they’re short-staffed, I thought we could go help and make a difference,” one of the employees said. “When we got there we were told to discriminate against people. It’s almost unbelievable to think that somebody in the federal government would think that’s okay.”
“I volunteered to help disaster victims, not discriminate against them,” the employee said. “It didn’t matter if people were black, white, Hispanic, for Trump, for Harris. Everyone deserves the same amount of help.”
In a statement to Fox News, a FEMA spokesperson clarified that the employee was not authorized to issue such directives and had received no guidance to discriminate against disaster-affected residents based on political beliefs. “While we believe this is an isolated incident, we have taken measures to remove the employee from their role and are investigating the matter to prevent this from happening ever again,” the spokesperson stated. FEMA is also making efforts to reach individuals who may have been bypassed due to this directive.
The incident has prompted a broader investigation by FEMA, which has pledged to ensure fair treatment for all citizens affected by hurricanes. “We are horrified that this took place,” FEMA stated, “and we have taken extreme actions to correct this situation and ensure it is addressed at all levels.”
In the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton, FEMA reports that it has assisted over 365,000 households and provided over $898 million in direct relief. The organization reiterated its commitment to supporting survivors “for as long as it takes.”
Political responses to the incident have been swift. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that his administration would launch an independent investigation into FEMA’s practices, condemning what he called “the blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists.”
The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days.
At my direction, the Division of Emergency Management is launching an investigation into the federal… https://t.co/3uFpE62vxb
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 8, 2024
House Oversight Committee and Rep. James Comer questioned why the official had not been fired outright, calling for increased accountability within FEMA and other federal agencies.
🚨FEMA hasn’t fired this person…
But the IRS has been trying to force IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley out for blowing the whistle!
We must hold these unelected bureaucrats accountable. https://t.co/O4mzwsWzbf
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) November 9, 2024
At a previous White House briefing, President Biden defended FEMA’s efforts, denouncing “disinformation and conspiracy theories” surrounding the agency’s hurricane response and reaffirming his administration’s dedication to disaster relief.
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