FEMA Official Removed After 'Avoid Trump Houses' Message Leaks, DeSantis Orders Investigation
An official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency was "removed from their role" and is under investigation after the Daily Wire obtained a leaked internal message in which they ordered workers to bypass the homes of Trump supporters as they surveyed the damage caused by Hurricane Milton in Florida.
In the leaked message, a FEMA supervisor told workers to "avoid homes advertising Trump" as they canvassed Lake Placid, Florida to find residents who may qualify for federal aid.
The supervisor, Marn’i Washington, told workers both verbally and in a group chat to avoid Trump supporters' homes, multiple government officials told the Daily Wire.
"When we got there we were told to discriminate against people. It’s almost unbelievable to think that somebody in the federal government would think that’s okay," one of the employees told the outlet, adding that it was wrong to discriminate against Trump supporters when they were at their "most vulnerable."
"I volunteered to help disaster victims, not discriminate against them," said the employee. "It didn’t matter if people were black, white, Hispanic, for Trump, for Harris. Everyone deserves the same amount of help."
The guidance came as the Biden administration was criticized over its sluggish response to Hurricane Helene in rural areas across the country. In Roan Mountain, Tennessee, for example, locals told The Daily Wire it took nearly two weeks for FEMA to show up. The town is located in Carter County, which voted 81% for Trump on Tuesday.
The FEMA agents ordered not to help houses with Trump signs were operating in Highlands County, a deep-red area located in south central Florida that backed Trump by 70% on Tuesday. It was hit with tornadoes, torrential wind and rain, and flooding when Milton hit in October. -Daily Wire
Following the report, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) ordered an 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 X. "New leadership is on the way in DC, and I’m optimistic that these partisan bureaucrats will be fired."
FEMA, meanwhile, has "removed" Washington "from their role" within the agency.
FULL STATEMENT: "FEMA helps all survivors regardless of their political preference or affiliation and we are deeply disturbed by this employee’s actions. While we believe this is an isolated incident, we have taken measures to remove the employee from their role and are…
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) November 8, 2024
That wasn't enough for some...
wait so the "extreme actions" taken to respond to this were to... continue to employ this individual?
— stevemur (@stevemur) November 8, 2024
"Remove the employee from their role"
— Mike Osborne (@M_David_Osborne) November 8, 2024
So, they're still employed by the government and being paid with our tax dollars, I would assume.
This person needs to go to jail.
Unless "removed from role" means fired, FEMA needs to rethink their response.
— blueagave (@1blueagave) November 8, 2024
I can't wait until Elon gets a hold of this department.