A FEMA employee has been dismissed after allegedly advising a survivor assistance team not to visit homes displaying yard signs in support of former President Donald Trump during Hurricane Milton relief efforts in Florida. The guidance was reportedly issued last month amid widespread recovery efforts following the devastating storm.
In an official statement on Saturday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell condemned the incident, describing the behavior as “reprehensible.” She emphasized that the action directly contravened FEMA’s fundamental mission and commitment to provide aid to all affected individuals without political discrimination. “This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,” Criswell stated in a statement released to NBC News.
Criswell went on to reaffirm FEMA’s dedication, citing the agency’s more than 22,000 employees who work tirelessly to support communities during disasters. “I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA, and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct,” she declared. The FEMA administrator also confirmed that the employee in question has been terminated, and the case has been escalated to the Office of Special Counsel for further review. The agency has not disclosed the identity of the dismissed employee.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded swiftly to the incident, instructing the state’s Division of Emergency Management to conduct an inquiry into what he described as “the federal government’s targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump.” In a post on social media platform X, DeSantis stated, “The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days.”
The recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, have caused significant destruction in Florida and other southern states, including North Carolina and Georgia. The storms left over 200 fatalities and widespread structural damage, intensifying the urgency for relief and recovery efforts.
FEMA Takes Firm Action on Unbiased Assistance Standards
FEMA’s decisive response underscores the agency’s commitment to impartiality and accountability, emphasizing that political biases have no place in disaster relief efforts. The dismissal of the employee and subsequent investigation reflect FEMA’s dedication to ensuring equal assistance for all in times of crisis.
