FEMA investigating worker who told staff to bypass homes with Trump signs: Report says

FEMA director Deanne Criswell confirmed to Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., that the agency is actively investigating the actions of supervisor Marn’i Washington.

Published: December 19, 2024 5:16pm

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is complying with ongoing investigations into a supervisor who told employees not to help hurricane victims who had Trump signs in front of their homes in Florida, according to reports.

FEMA director Deanne Criswell confirmed to Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., that the agency is actively investigating supervisor Marn’i Washington's actions. For her part, Washington has told media that she was "simply following orders" from higher-ups.

“This employee’s conduct was reprehensible, and this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA,” Criswell wrote in a letter first obtained by The Daily Wire. “The work we do at FEMA is not, has never been, and should never be partisan — emergencies and disasters don’t respect geographic or political boundaries.”

Last month, a whistleblower at FEMA filed a complaint that alleged an agency official in Florida told disaster relief workers to skip houses that had pro-Donald Trump signs in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

The employees were allegedly told in late October that they should skip houses of Trump supporters when canvassing in Lake Placid, Florida. The guidance was allegedly communicated both verbally and in group chat messages, according to The Daily Wire, though the messages have since been deleted.

At least 20 houses were reportedly skipped over based on the guidance, and therefore were not given the opportunity to qualify for FEMA assistance.

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