FEMA Chief To Testify Before Lawmakers On Instruction To Skip Trump Supporters’ Homes

The House Oversight Committee announced Tuesday that FEMA Commissioner Deanne Criswell will testify next week on guidance from a government employee who ordered relief workers in Florida to skip homes displaying signs or flags supporting President-elect Donald Trump. 

Lawmakers will question Criswell about guidance, first reported by The Daily Wire, from since-fired FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington for relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to Criswell last week requesting that she appear before the committee to discuss the guidance and its handling of recent hurricanes. 

“FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be testifying before our committee next Tuesday. We look forward to hearing what she has to say about these allegations and more,” the House Oversight Committee posted on X. 

???? BREAKING: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be testifying before our committee next Tuesday. We look forward to hearing what she has to say about these allegations and more. https://t.co/mMv6yMzbf2

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) November 12, 2024

Comer indicated that the committee would ask Criswell about Washington’s Tuesday interview with Roland Martin, where she claimed FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes. She said that FEMA’s suggestion that she made an independent decision to avoid certain homes is a mischaracterization, stating that it is agency policy.

“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,” Washington said. “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”

“Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know,” Washington added. 

READ MORE: FEMA Official Ordered Relief Workers To Skip Houses With Trump Signs

Multiple government employees from the relief team told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes were skipped because of the guidance. The employees said this guidance was given both verbally, as well as in a group chat used by the relief team and viewed by The Daily Wire. 

Comer wrote Criswell on Saturday demanding that she appear for a hearing in Washington, D.C., on November 19 at 2:00 p.m. 

“This hearing will address FEMA’s response to recent major natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and permit members to investigate recent reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying campaign signs for President Trump,” Comer wrote. 

Federal and state investigations have been launched into FEMA to probe its policies for providing aid. FEMA has not responded to allegations from Washington, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.