FEMA Fires Official Who Told Hurricane Relief Workers to Skip Trump Homes

The FEMA supervisor who ordered relief workers to bypass the homes of Donald Trump’s supporters while administering hurricane aid in Florida has been fired following the Daily Wire report.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced Saturday that supervisor Marn’i Washington had been fired after she ordered federal employees under her supervision to“avoid homes advertising Trump” as they canvassed Lake Placid, Florida to identify residents who could qualify for federal aid, according to messages shared with The Daily Wire by whistleblowers. These instructions were given both verbally and in writing, multiple government employees revealed.

“More than 22,000 FEMA employees every day adhere to FEMA’s core values and are dedicated to helping people before, during and after disasters, often sacrificing time with their own families to help disaster survivors. Recently, one FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump,” Criswell said in a statement. “This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. This was reprehensible.”

“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 added.

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

Criswell said that the incident had been referred to a special counsel for investigation.

“We take our mission to help everyone before, during and after disasters seriously. This employee has been terminated and we have referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again,” she said. 

Federal employees told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes were skipped from late October to November because of the guidance, which was given verbally and in a group chat. The report prompted state and federal officials to demand an investigation into the incident. 

Microsoft Teams chat used by FEMA workers. / The Daily Wire

Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said the Daily Wire’s report was “sickening,” and also that she fears her constituents were targeted.

“My district was one of the most heavily impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and it has been sickening to hear that more than half of my constituents were discriminated against for their political beliefs. Big government bureaucrats despise everyday Americans because they are not politically expedient for them,” Luna told The Daily Wire on Saturday. “I demand answers from FEMA Administrator Criswell and Congress must fully investigate this matter. The days of putting Americans and America last are over.”

In a Friday letter, Luna demanded answers from Criswell on after The Daily Wire report. 

Luna asked Criswell to provide answers on what she knew about FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington’s instructions to federal relief workers to “avoid homes advertising Trump” in a group chat used by relief workers. 

“It is completely unacceptable that a FEMA official was allowed to exploit Hurricane Milton to further their political beliefs at a time when Americans were struggling due to the damage caused by the storm,” Luna wrote, citing The Daily Wire. “The opportunity to apply for federal aid through FEMA should never be used to discriminate against an individual.”

I just took swift action for the American people, and I’m demanding answers from @FEMA_Deanne on why Americans were discriminated against by their government based on who they support in an election. The findings are revolting, and we need accountability.

You have until 11/25. pic.twitter.com/Jz2gQVmhpc

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) November 9, 2024

An employee under Washington’s supervision previously filed a complaint about the guidance with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA. As of Thursday, government employees told The Daily Wire that Washington had only been reassigned to a different Florida county, but FEMA said as of Friday that she was no longer actively working for the agency. 

Luna demanded that Criswell respond by November 25 with information on what actions FEMA had taken and when it first became aware of the guidance. Luna’s letter asks what actions FEMA has taken to ensure that homes that were skipped received the necessary aid, and how guidance from supervisors is approved. 

A number of other state and federal lawmakers have demanded investigations into FEMA following The Daily Wire’s report, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who ordered his state’s Division of Emergency Management to investigate the incident.

The Florida official in charge of that agency wrote a letter to the White House on Saturday, obtained exclusively by The Daily Wire, ordering the administration to preserve all records for the pending investigation.