Alejandra Drullard Rosario
A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee was fired after advising a survivor assistance team not to visit homes with yard signs that supported President-elect Donald Trump during Hurricane Milton relief efforts in Florida last month. The employee’s directive, which was made during a team briefing, was seen as a violation of FEMA’s non-partisan policy and code of conduct.
In a statement, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell called the incident “reprehensible, this is a clear violation of FEMA’S Core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,” she said in a statement shared with NBC News. Criswell said FEMA has more than 22,000 employees (about the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) that are dedicated to helping those affected by disasters.
It is absurd to decide not to help victims of a natural disaster due to political opinions.“I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct,” Criswell said, adding that the employee in question was fired and the incident was referred to the Office of Special Counsel.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he directed the state’s Division of Emergency Management to launch an investigation into “the federal government’s targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donal Trump.” Florida was severely affected by back-to-back hurricanes Helen and Milton weeks ago. The hurricanes left several hundred dead, homes destroyed and other structures destroyed. The governor vowed to hold accountable anyone found to be engaging in political discrimination during the ongoing recovery process, emphasizing that all Floridians, regardless of political affiliation, deserve equal assistance in times of crisis.
FEMA did not personally release the identity of the employee involved in the controversy, but the press later identified her as Marri Washington, the former FEMA official. Washington was fired from her position following the incidents. It remains unclear why she instructed her team to engage in a politically charged decision during the relief efforts, as FEMA’s mission is to provide aid without bias or discrimination.
Local officials have vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, seeking to understand whether her actions were part of a broader pattern or an isolated incident. Authorities are also focusing on ensuring that residents affected by Hurricane Milton receive fair and respectful assistance moving forward. The situation has sparked concerns over the politicization of the emergency response organization and the potential erosion of trust in the agency’s ability to serve all citizens equally.
I think that FEMA along with Criswell made the right decision in firing the employee in question, as incidents like these can quickly undermine the integrity and ethical standards of any organization. The mission of FEMA is to provide relief during natural disasters and allowing any form of political bias or discrimination to influence that mission would severely damage public trust. By taking swift action, Criswell sent a clear message that such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated within the agency.
Comments