FEMA Chief Set to Face Dual House Grilling Over Trump Home Bias Allegations

FEMA Director Deanne Criswell is scheduled to appear before two House committees next week as lawmakers demand answers regarding a now-fired FEMA supervisor’s directive for relief workers in Florida to avoid homes with Trump signage. This double grilling follows revelations last week that disaster relief workers in Lake Placid, Florida, were instructed to skip homes displaying Trump flags or campaign signs.

The first inquiry will take place before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with a special focus from its Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. Afterward, Criswell will face additional scrutiny from the House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer (R-KY), who has voiced concern over recent claims by fired FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington. Washington alleged that FEMA maintains a “widespread policy” of avoiding “politically hostile” homes an assertion that FEMA’s leadership has yet to directly address.

The subcommittee stated it is expanding its probe into “troubling reports that emergency aid was not reaching disaster victims.” Lawmakers will question Criswell on whether directives similar to Washington’s guidance have affected relief efforts in other politically charged areas.

Washington, who has become central to the controversy, claimed in a recent interview that FEMA’s official stance encourages employees to avoid homes deemed “politically hostile” for safety reasons. She asserted that “this is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.” The incident has spurred both state and federal investigations into FEMA’s aid distribution practices, with critics pointing to a potentially politicized approach to disaster response.

The House Oversight Committee is expected to probe further into Washington’s allegations, questioning the legitimacy of FEMA’s “avoidance” policy and the extent of senior leadership’s knowledge. Washington alleged that leadership is “very well aware” of the avoidance policy, claiming that “senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know.”

This dual hearing on Tuesday signals a heightened focus on FEMA’s conduct under Criswell’s leadership and poses serious questions about the agency's neutrality in providing disaster aid. FEMA has not yet issued a response to Washington’s accusations, leaving the agency’s public accountability at stake as investigations continue.

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