The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has terminated four employees, including a crew leader, following an investigation sparked by a congressional oversight initiative co-led by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL).
The probe revealed that the employees directed Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams to bypass homes displaying Trump campaign signs during the response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, an action FEMA deemed “reprehensible” and a violation of agency standards.
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The initiative, spearheaded by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and backed by over 50 members of Congress, demanded accountability after reports surfaced that FEMA workers in Florida were instructed to “avoid homes advertising Trump” in the wake of the devastating 2024 storms.
Helene and Milton, which battered the Southeast, left communities reeling, amplifying outrage over the alleged politicization of disaster relief. The effort gained traction with support from lawmakers, including Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), among others.
FEMA’s response, detailed in a letter to Congress, confirmed the firings after a coordinated investigation with the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Special Counsel, and FEMA’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
The agency acted swiftly to address what it called a failure to uphold its core mission of aiding all survivors impartially. The terminated crew leader had initially been identified in November 2024, with three additional supervisors sacked following a deeper probe into the incident.
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Rep. Donalds, a vocal advocate for the oversight push, hailed the outcome as a win for accountability.
“When disaster strikes, the American people deserve a federal government that is responsive, supportive, and efficient,” he said in a statement. “In the aftermath of Hurricanes Milton and Helene, this did not occur. FEMA employees were instructed to ‘avoid homes advertising Trump’ and flagrantly politicized the most important services of government when they were needed most. I am proud that our federal oversight initiative has resulted in extensive investigation and the termination of those who weaponized disaster relief for political gain. We are holding unelected bureaucrats accountable and putting the American people first.”
The controversy first erupted when a FEMA supervisor, later fired, admitted to directing her team to skip Trump-supporting households in Florida, claiming it was to avoid conflict. Subsequent whistleblower accounts and congressional hearings, including testimony before the House Oversight Committee, suggested the practice may have extended to the Carolinas and reflected a broader pattern.
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FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who labeled the initial incident “unacceptable,” faced intense scrutiny but maintained that evidence pointed to isolated actions rather than systemic bias. The agency has since revisited affected areas to ensure aid reached all eligible survivors.
The Donalds-endorsed initiative, outlined in a letter to FEMA demanding action, underscored bipartisan frustration with bureaucratic overreach. Lawmakers from across the Republican spectrum rallied behind the cause, arguing that disaster relief must remain free of partisan taint. FEMA’s response letter, released this week, detailed the disciplinary measures and reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality, though it stopped short of addressing wider allegations of cultural bias within the agency.
For Donalds and his colleagues, the firings mark a step toward restoring public trust in FEMA, an agency battered by criticism—and misinformation—following the hurricanes.
With the 2025 hurricane season looming, the administration and Congress face ongoing pressure to ensure such lapses do not recur.
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