After a FEMA employee advised her team to avoid homes displaying President-elect Trump campaign signs in Florida following Hurricane Milton, the agency confirmed her termination.
The head of FEMA, Deanne Criswell, called the employee’s actions “reprehensible,” emphasizing that the agency’s over 22,000 staff members consistently uphold FEMA’s core values, working selflessly to assist disaster survivors.
The administrator noted that, despite this widespread dedication, one employee had deviated from these principles. This individual had instructed the survivor assistance team to bypass homes with Trump campaign yard signs, which was labeled as a violation of FEMA’s commitment to helping all people, regardless of political affiliation.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell condemns political bias, emphasizing FEMA’s commitment to impartial aid
The employee, whose identity FEMA has not disclosed, was dismissed, and the incident was reported to the Office of Special Counsel. Criswell made it clear that such behavior would not be tolerated at FEMA and that those who breach conduct standards would face accountability.
The situation gained attention after a report by The Daily Wire on Friday, which revealed that the employee had told workers to avoid homes supporting Trump. The guidance led to at least 20 homes being bypassed by FEMA workers in Lake Placid, Florida. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced an investigation into the matter.
DeSantis criticized the use of government power for political discrimination, describing it as part of a broader issue with the Biden-Harris administration. He expressed confidence that with new leadership soon to take over in Washington, the bureaucrats involved would be dismissed.
In response, Representative Anna Paulina Luna demanded accountability from Criswell, calling the incident “revolting.” Luna set a deadline of November 25 for the FEMA chief to provide an explanation, stating that swift action was needed to address the discrimination against Floridians based on their political beliefs.
