House GOP demands investigation into FEMA’s ignoring of pro-Trump rural areas in desperate need of aid

12/06/2024 / By Ramon Tomey

Republican congressmen in the House of Representatives are demanding a probe into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ignoring the need for aid of areas that support President-elect Donald Trump.

Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) made this call in a letter sent Tuesday, Dec. 3, to Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari. Citing the Daily Wire‘s reporting, they urged Cuffari to look into claims that former FEMA supervisor Marni Washington allegedly instructed workers to ignore homes with pro-Trump yard signs in Lake Placid, Florida. Washington was later fired in the wake of the incident.

The two congressmen also noted that the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (HTC) is aware of reports of FEMA employees in North Carolina “skipping any home that displayed a ‘Make America Great Again,’ ‘Drain the Swamp,’ ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ or Trump campaign sign” on its front lawn. If three or more signs were present were seen, FEMA staffers were told to abandon entire areas without notifying residents of hurricane aid.

Graves and Perry raised concerns that these actions might indicate a broader pattern of “political bias” within the agency. They emphasized their growing worry that this avoidance could be more extensive than initially reported, potentially leaving victims unaware of available federal assistance. Graves chairs the overall HTC, while Perry chairs the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management under it.

The incidents happened at the heels of Hurricanes Helene and Milton hitting the two states. Last month, FEMA Director Deanne Criswell told lawmakers at Capitol Hill that the Florida incident was isolated. She also asserted that the agency does not engage in any policies leading to systemic avoidance.

But upon further pressing by Perry, Criswell agreed to request an investigation from Cuffari’s office into the matter. The FEMA head later told the House Oversight Committee that she had requested an “independent” investigation from the inspector general.

Marni Washington: FEMA skipping pro-Trump houses is a standard agency policy

Meanwhile, Washington – who was fired from the agency after news of the Florida incident broke out – later sat down with journalist Roland Martin to share her side of the story. She lamented how the agency is scapegoating her and disclosed that avoiding pro-Trump homes is standard FEMA policy for its staffers. (Related: FEMA official fired over leaked memo telling government aid workers to “avoid Trump houses” after Hurricane Milton.)

According to Washington, FEMA leadership was aware of “politically hostile” homes being skipped. Such “avoidance,” she added, wasn’t merely confined to one state but took place in multiple states.

“FEMA preaches avoidance first, and then de-escalation. This is not isolated. This is a colossal event of avoidance, not just in the state of Florida. You will find avoidance in the Carolinas,” she told Martin.

The former FEMA employee also confirmed that because a few households with Trump signs on their lawns were critical of the agency, all such homes on particular streets were determined to meet “the community trend of political hostility” in the Sunshine State – and are to be skipped over.

Washington added that such a policy was necessary, and was even encouraged by FEMA leaders, to prevent aid workers from being subjected to a “hostile work environment.” Examples of the latter include hurricane victims making “crazy” remarks such as “drain the swamp.”

The now-fired FEMA worker also expressed irritation that third parties working with the agency had leaked news of pro-Trump homes were being passed over. She suggested that the federal government crack down on them for their “egregious” whistleblowing.

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Watch this Fox News report about Marn’i Washington telling FEMA aid workers in Florida to avoid houses with Trump yard signs.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.