Let’s talk about this FEMA fiasco, shall we?
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer dropped a bombshell on Tuesday when he revealed yet another whistleblower claim, this time from Georgia. The allegation? A FEMA supervisor allegedly told a family to remove Trump campaign signs from their property after Hurricane Helene, warning them that the agency didn’t “look kindly” on Trump supporters. Because apparently, disaster relief now comes with a side of political litmus testing.
If this whistleblower’s account is true—and Comer insists it’s credible—it paints a disturbing picture of FEMA workers bypassing the homes of Trump supporters under the guise of disaster relief. The story only gets worse: despite the family reportedly complying and removing their Trump materials, FEMA never came back to help them. Let that sink in. The very agency tasked with aiding disaster victims allegedly left an elderly disabled veteran’s family high and dry because of their political affiliation. Real class act.
“The elderly homeowners were so frightened by this, and afraid they would not recover their loss, that they removed all Trump materials and signs,” the Kentucky Republican said.
This revelation comes on the heels of allegations that at least 20 homes in Lake Placid, Florida, were skipped during Hurricane Milton relief operations for the same reason: the presence of Trump flags or signs. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) chimed in during the hearing, claiming over 35 constituents had reached out to his office with similar stories of political discrimination. Yet, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell insists these were isolated incidents that were not reflective of agency policy. Sure, because nothing screams “one-off” like identical claims in multiple states.
Criswell spent six hours in the hot seat, testifying before the Oversight Committee and claiming she was “heartbroken” over the alleged guidance. She confirmed that she had fired the individual responsible for sending out politically biased instructions but sidestepped deeper accountability. As Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) aptly pointed out, firing one person doesn’t address the culture or systemic issues that allowed this to happen in the first place. McClain was right to press Criswell on the “layers in between” who enabled such actions.
“There seems to be a lot of unanswered questions with the exception of we fired the person who did it, ” McClain said. “but what enabled, what empowered that person to do that?”
And while Criswell has called for an independent Inspector General investigation, many lawmakers remain unsatisfied with her answers. Why? Because the story here isn’t just about one rogue FEMA contractor. It’s about what allowed such blatant discrimination to creep into an agency that’s supposed to operate above politics. The fact that Americans seeking disaster relief may have been penalized for their political views should outrage anyone who cares about fairness, regardless of party affiliation.
🚨BREAKING- Chairman Comer reveals a NEW whistleblower in a different state claims that FEMA purposely avoided the homes ofTrump supporters when providing disaster relief.
“During the recess for votes, my staff made contact with a new whistleblower who provided a credible… pic.twitter.com/HV03qRpXLG
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) November 19, 2024
If FEMA can’t stay neutral during a crisis, then what’s next? Should families start checking their yard signs before requesting help after a hurricane? This isn’t just a FEMA problem; it’s a government problem. And as far as oversight is concerned, the American people deserve better.
