FEMA confirmed a staffer was terminated after advising employees not to visit homes with Trump signs.
Several Republican members of Congress have called for an immediate investigation into a recently fired Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staffer who advised relief team members to bypass homes that had signs showing support for then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
On Saturday FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell confirmed that a FEMA employee advised « her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump », and has since been « terminated », in a post on on X, formerly Twitter. The confirmation comes as reports of the FEMA staffer have circulated online in recent days.
Criswell called the actions « reprehensible », and a « clear violation of FEMA’s core values & principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. »
She noted that the matter has been referred to the Office of Special Counsel. Her post did not note in relation to which Hurricane, although ABC News and The New York Times cited it was in reference to Hurricane Milton in Florida, which came just days after the devastating Hurricane Helene.
A handful of Republicans have posted on social media calling for an investigation into the situation and calling out the political discrimination.
Maine Senator Susan Collins wrote in an X post, « The Inspector General must immediately conduct a full investigation, and all those responsible for playing politics with vulnerable people’s lives and homes should be held accountable.
