U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

11/14/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/14/2024 13:51

T&I Committee Leaders Demand FEMA Accounting for Ignoring Disaster Victims Who Supported President-Elect Trump Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management

T&I Committee Leaders Demand FEMA Accounting for Ignoring Disaster Victims Who Supported President-Elect Trump

Washington, D.C., November 14, 2024 | Justin Harclerode (202) 225-9446
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Washington, DC - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) are continuing their investigation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response to recent hurricanes, including reports that some FEMA employees in Florida were instructed to avoid impacted homes that displayed campaign signs for President-elect Trump.

In a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Chairman Graves and Chairman Perry led all 35 Transportation Committee Republicans in writing, "As the FEMA Administrator, you are responsible for leading the Nation's efforts to prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters. The Committee is troubled that under your leadership FEMA failed to aid all Americans, regardless of party affiliation."

Today's letter came after it was revealed that a FEMA supervisor sent a best practices message to FEMA workers canvassing in Lake Placid, Florida after the area was impacted by Hurricane Milton, instructing workers to "avoid homes advertising Trump." As a result of guidance issued by FEMA leadership, according to a system used by FEMA to track which homes were contacted, workers passed over some homes with Trump campaign signs or flags.

Graves and Perry had already opened a Committee investigation into FEMA in October following other concerning reports, including North Carolina disaster victims' concerns about the pace of FEMA's response and inability to provide them with necessary assistance.

"The blatant disregard of President-elect Trump supporters directly contradicts FEMA's core mission and values," said the Members of Congress. "It is clear that, under the Biden-Harris Administration, FEMA has been ill-prepared to provide assistance and relief to many Americans in need."

In the letter, the Members asked FEMA to provide more information and a briefing about the discriminatory guidance.

Read the full letter to the FEMA Administrator here.

At 10 a.m., on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee will hold a hearing to receive testimony from FEMA Administrator Criswell and several Members of Congress representing districts impacted by recent disasters. The hearing will focus on FEMA's preparedness and responses to recent disasters, including the troubling accounts of FEMA's actions in North Carolina and Florida. That hearing will be livestreamed here.