Trump's FEMA faces reckoning as more staff fired in 'political bias' scandal: GOP lawmaker
Share and Follow

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has fired three more supervisors in the wake of an internal probe after a crew of disaster relief workers were directed to “avoid homes advertising Trump” in hurricane-battered Florida. 

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., exclusively told Fox News Digital that he is “confident” that the Trump administration will “root out egregious examples of political bias like this at FEMA.”

“After back-to-back hurricanes devastated Florida and left many in our area with nothing, it’s incomprehensible that FEMA relief workers were skipping over those in need,” he said. “FEMA has the responsibility to serve every American equally, regardless of their politics.”

Washington said the agency threw her under the bus, alleging that she simply communicated a policy that came from her higher-ups.

“Why is this coming down on me? I am the person that jotted down the notes from my superiors and my notation in [Microsoft] Teams chat was exposed from their search capacity team,” Washington said.

In response to Fox News host Trace Gallagher asking, “So you’re telling me these orders came from somebody above?” she said, “Correct.”

The former FEMA employee alleged that the Florida team had already been avoiding Trump voters’ homes prior to her work there. 

“This was the culture. They were already avoiding these homes based on community trends from hostile political encounters. It has nothing to do with the campaign sign. It just so happened to be part of the community trend,” Washington explained.

Investigations were launched after FEMA confirmed to Fox News Digital in November that an employee had instructed aid workers to deny relief to residents who had Trump campaign signs at their homes. The Daily Wire was the first to report it.

Shortly after the news broke, FEMA announced the termination of Washington.

“FEMA helps all survivors regardless of their political preference or affiliation,” a FEMA spokesperson told Fox News Digital in November. “The employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes, and we are reaching out to the people who may have not been reached as a result of this incident.”

The spokesperson added that the agency has helped more than 365,000 households affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida and provided “nearly $900 million in direct assistance to survivors.”

flood waters

The town of Chimney Rock, N.C., is seen after flash flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Hamilton said she has directed additional training to staffers to “reinforce that political affiliation should never be a consideration in the rendering of assistance.”

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chair James Comer, R-Ky., lauded FEMA for “holding bad actors accountable.”

“Political affiliation should never be a factor in distributing taxpayer-funded disaster relief to Americans,” he said in a release. “Americans demand accountability in Washington and President Trump and his administration are delivering it.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to FEMA for comment.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Anthony Joshua's best friends killed in Nigeria car crash

Tragic Loss: Anthony Joshua Mourns Best Friends Killed in Devastating Nigeria Car Crash

Two individuals identified as Anthony Joshua’s close friends have been confirmed as…
Police sergeant denies hearing Luigi Mangione mother's alleged damning statement about CEO killing

Sergeant Disputes Claim of Hearing Key Statement in CEO Murder Case Involving Luigi Mangione’s Mother

A San Francisco police sergeant has clarified that he is not the…
Body of triathlete found after shark attack off California coast

Triathlete’s Body Recovered Following Shark Attack off California Coast

In a tragic turn of events, the body of a missing triathlete…
Taylor Swift leaves stadium worker in tears over remarkable generosity

Taylor Swift’s Heartfelt Gesture Moves Stadium Employee to Tears

Taylor Swift has once again demonstrated that her generosity off the stage…
What is lake effect snow?

Unveiling Lake Effect Snow: What It Is and How It Impacts Weather

Predicting lake effect snow is one of the most intriguing challenges facing…
U.S. Curling Team trains at Minnesota Vikings facility ahead of 2026 Olympics

U.S. Curling Team Prepares for 2026 Olympics at Minnesota Vikings’ State-of-the-Art Facility

Top-tier curlers are leveraging an NFL training facility to enhance their strength…
From Gaza to Iran: What’s at stake in Trump-Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago talks?

High-Stakes Mar-a-Lago Summit: Trump and Netanyahu’s Middle East Strategy Unveiled

President Donald Trump is set to convene with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin…
Missing child found at Humboldt Park, Chicago home after disappearing more than 7 years ago; sibling, mother arrested

Juveniles Arrested Following Major Disruption at Louis Joliet Mall: Police Report

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) — A chaotic scene unfolded at the Louis Joliet…