The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to face an onslaught of controversy linked to directed discrimination towards supporters of Donald Trump in the aftermath of devastating Hurricane Helene.
Just one week after recently fired FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington came forward saying the agency directed subordinates to avoid homes with Trump signs, another whistleblower has come forward alleging MORE discrimination in the state of Georgia that targeted supporters of Donald Trump.
Here’s what you need to know.
During shocking congressional testimony yesterday, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer revealed that a whistleblower claimed a FEMA supervisor in Georgia directed a family to remove Trump campaign signage from their home, saying it was not “looked kindly” on by the agency.
In other words, a Trump sign could get families put in the proverbial “back of the line”, or ignored altogether.
Comer made the statements during a hearing where lawmakers questioned current FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about an agency employee who told relief workers in Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
🚨BREAKING- Chairman Comer reveals a NEW whistleblower in a different state claims that FEMA purposely avoided the homes ofTrump supporters when providing disaster relief.
"During the recess for votes, my staff made contact with a new whistleblower who provided a credible… pic.twitter.com/HV03qRpXLG
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) November 19, 2024
Criswell has said that the guidance was an isolated incident and not the result of agency policy to skip over “politically hostile” homes.
But testimony from Comer cast serious on Criswell’s claims of an isolated incident.
“My staff made contact with a new whistleblower who provided a credible account that a FEMA contractor visited the home of an elderly disabled veteran’s family around October 10 following Hurricane Helene,” Comer said.
“While there he recommended that they remove Trump campaign materials and signs from both their house and yard. He warned the family that his FEMA supervisor does not take kindly to Trump supporters and that they are seen as domestic terrorists.”
Criswell’s testimony also contrasted with statements from Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) who said during the hearing that over 35 of his constituents reached out to him with allegations that FEMA had discriminated against them. Steube said his office had information on “specific instances, factual instances, where they were either overlooked or specifically discriminated against because of their political affiliation.”
Comer said that the whistleblower claimed FEMA never returned to the family’s home even after they removed their Trump gear.
“The elderly homeowners were so frightened by this, and afraid they would not recover their loss, that they removed all Trump materials and signs,” the Kentucky Republican said.
According to a Daily Wire report, the Oversight Committee called Criswell to testify after whistleblowers said that at least 20 homes were skipped during relief operations after Hurricane Milton because they had Trump flags or signs.
Criswell testified for over six hours on yesterday. She said she was “heartbroken” by the guidance and that the investigation into the incident was ongoing.
Criswell confirmed during the hearing that she had asked the Inspector General to launch an independent investigation into the guidance, to supplement FEMA’s ongoing internal investigation.
However, The Daily Wire spoked with Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) who said she was not happy with Criswell’s answers.
“You have blatant discrimination going on,” McClain said. “She fired the person who sent out the text, fantastic, but what about all of the layers in between who knew that it was going on.”
She said that Criswell was “conveniently” ignorant of details surrounding who was managing Washington and who she answered to.
“There seems to be a lot of unanswered questions with the exception of we fired the person who did it, ” McClain said. “but what enabled, what empowered that person to do that?”
This investigation is on-going.