By Rachel Nostrant and Christopher Flavelle
A staff member at the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been let go following allegations that after Hurricane Milton, they instructed relief workers in Florida to avoid homes that displayed signs endorsing Donald Trump, the agency reported on Saturday.
FEMA confirmed that an employee had advised her emergency assistance crew to skip houses with Trump yard signs while conducting rescue operations after Milton struck the state last month as a Category 3 hurricane. The agency stated that the employee’s identity is confidential and that she has been dismissed. They believe this to be an isolated incident, which is now subject to investigation.
Deanne Criswell, the head of FEMA, commented that the employee’s behavior was “unacceptable.”
“This is a blatant breach of FEMA’s essential values and principles of serving all individuals, irrespective of their political beliefs,” she remarked.
Criswell noted that the agency has sent the issue to its internal counsel and affirmed her commitment to preventing such occurrences in the future.
“I want to make it clear to all my staff and the American populace that this sort of conduct and action will not be accepted at FEMA, and we will take measures against those who breach these standards of behavior,” she added.
The agency also mentioned that they are reaching out to individuals who may have been denied assistance due to the employee’s instructions.
The initial report about the FEMA employee giving such guidance to relief workers was first published by The Daily Wire.
In a message on the social media platform X, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that state officials were seeking clarity regarding what he termed “partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy.”
“At my instruction, the Division of Emergency Management is initiating an inquiry into the federal government’s selective discrimination against Floridians who support Donald Trump,” DeSantis wrote.
The devastation caused by Milton — which claimed more than 20 lives, destroyed homes, and cut off power to millions in Florida — occurred approximately two weeks after Hurricane Helene struck Florida as a Category 4 storm. Helene wreaked havoc across Florida and the Southeast, resulting in floods, tornadoes, and mudslides, killing over 200 individuals.
Preliminary assessments by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate that the overall damage from Milton and Helene could exceed $50 billion. FEMA reported that it has assisted more than 365,000 households in Florida affected by the storms, providing nearly $900 million in direct aid to survivors.
However, the episode involving the dismissed employee is likely to undermine FEMA’s efforts to address the widespread disinformation it has faced during its relief operations. The agency and officials from various states have indicated that a tide of conspiracy theories, rumors, and falsehoods surrounding FEMA’s response has obstructed their ability to deliver accurate information and essential resources.
Among the false narratives circulated on social media by notable conservative figures, including Trump, were misleading claims that filing insurance claims would render individuals ineligible for FEMA assistance. Other unfounded rumors alleged that FEMA was reallocating relief funds to provide housing for undocumented migrants. To counteract these claims, the agency has established a section on its website dedicated to disproving these accusations.
In a briefing with journalists in October, Criswell remarked that the spread of misinformation has made the agency a target for partisan attacks and has endangered lives.
“This is absolutely the worst situation I have ever encountered,” she stated.
Last month, a man from North Carolina was arrested and accused of threatening federal emergency personnel providing aid after remnants of Helene devastated sections of the state. This arrest occurred after FEMA instructed its staff to cease door-to-door outreach to assist survivors in light of various threats of violence.
