The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability announced Saturday it would be holding a hearing to investigate FEMA after The Daily Wire reported that a federal employee ordered relief workers in Florida to skip the homes of people with signs or flags supporting Donald Trump.
Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell asking that she show up to testify before lawmakers on November 19. The letter comes after whistleblowers told The Daily Wire that they were instructed by now-fired FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington to “avoid homes advertising Trump” when offering relief in Lake Placid, Florida.
“This hearing will address FEMA’s response to recent major natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and permit members to investigate recent reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying campaign signs for President Trump,” Comer wrote in a letter to Criswell.
🚨BREAKING🚨
I’m calling on FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to appear & testify before the House Oversight Committee at a hearing on November 19.
FEMA has a responsibility to all Americans & @GOPoversight is committed to ensuring FEMA adheres to its disaster relief mission. pic.twitter.com/5HbWhHsgOI
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) November 9, 2024
“In the wake of the recent major disasters that impacted Americans of all political persuasions, it is critical that FEMA adheres to its disaster relief mission,” Comer added.
Multiple government employees from the relief team told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes were skipped because of the guidance. The employees said this guidance was given both verbally, as well as in a group chat used by the relief team.
Criswell announced on Saturday that Washington had been fired.
“More than 22,000 FEMA employees every day adhere to FEMA’s core values and are dedicated to helping people before, during and after disasters, often sacrificing time with their own families to help disaster survivors. Recently, one FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump,” she said in a statement. “This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. This was reprehensible.”
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Criswell said that the incident had been referred to a special counsel for investigation.
“We take our mission to help everyone before, during and after disasters seriously. This employee has been terminated and we have referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again,” she said.
Numerous lawmakers have announced inquiries into the guidance, including Republican Senators Katie Britt (AL) and Josh Hawley (MO).