Photo: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP / Getty Images
A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official has been fired for instructing relief workers to bypass homes displaying support for Donald Trump during the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in Florida. The official, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly advised workers to "avoid homes advertising Trump" while determining which residents qualified for federal aid. The incident was first reported by the Daily Wire, which claimed that at least 20 homes with Trump signs or flags were overlooked due to this guidance.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell confirmed the termination of the employee, describing the actions as "reprehensible" and a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation.
"This employee has been terminated, and we have referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel," Criswell said. "I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again." Fox News reported.
FEMA is now investigating how many houses were passed over due to the official's guidance and has deployed a new team to contact those who may not have been previously reached. The agency has helped more than 365,000 households impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida and provided nearly $900 million in direct assistance to survivors.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also ordered a state investigation into the incident.
"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," DeSantis wrote on social media. "At my direction, the Division of Emergency Management is launching an investigation into the federal government's targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump."