The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into FEMA after a terminated employee allegedly told relief workers to avoid assisting homes with Trump flags during Florida’s hurricane recovery efforts. FEMA has since confirmed the incident, terminated the employee, and referred the case to the Office of Special Counsel.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (2-minute read) — The House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following reports that an employee instructed hurricane relief workers to avoid homes displaying Trump campaign flags in Florida. The investigation aims to address concerns of potential political bias within FEMA’s operations, especially after the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Representative James Comer (R-Ky.), the chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, announced on Saturday that he sent a letter to FEMA Director Deanne Criswell requesting her appearance at a hearing. Comer stated that the hearing would provide an opportunity for committee members to delve into “recent reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying campaign signs for President Trump.” Comer emphasized that, in light of recent natural disasters affecting Americans across the political spectrum, FEMA must remain committed to its core disaster-relief mission without partiality.
The House Oversight probe follows a similar investigation launched by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Governor DeSantis accused the federal agency of “targeted discrimination” against Floridians based on political beliefs, calling the incident an example of “government weaponization by partisan activists.”
FEMA has confirmed that the employee responsible for the guidance has been dismissed, and the case has been referred to the Office of Special Counsel. FEMA Director Criswell reiterated that the agency is committed to unbiased assistance, stating that the incident was “an isolated case” and that immediate actions are being taken to prevent future occurrences.
A FEMA spokesperson stressed that the employee’s actions were unauthorized and that the agency is actively reaching out to residents who may have been overlooked due to this directive. FEMA highlighted that it has assisted over 365,000 households in Florida and distributed nearly $900 million in relief funds for those impacted by the recent hurricanes.
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