FEMA Supervisor Fired After Allegedly Telling Staff to Skip Over Trump Supporters’ Homes in Florida Hurricane Relief Efforts

FEMA Supervisor Fired After Allegedly Telling Staff to Skip Over Trump Supporters’ Homes in Florida Hurricane Relief Efforts:

A FEMA supervisor was fired after allegedly telling staff working in Florida hurricane recovery to avoid homes with signs supporting former President Donald Trump. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell called the supervisor’s behavior “reprehensible” and emphasized that FEMA’s mission is to help “everyone before, during, and after disasters,” regardless of politics.

The controversy centers on reports that FEMA workers assessing damage after Hurricane Milton in Florida were instructed to skip over homes displaying pro-Trump yard signs. According to The Daily Wire, which first broke the story, the incident reportedly took place in Lake Placid, Florida, where staff members saw an internal message saying, “Trump sign no entry per leadership.” A whistleblower in the agency claimed, “We were told to discriminate against people. It’s hard to believe someone in the federal government would think that’s okay.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded quickly, calling the incident “targeted discrimination” against Trump supporters and directing the state’s Division of Emergency Management to investigate. “Disaster relief should be based on need, not politics,” DeSantis said. He promised a thorough investigation to make sure everyone impacted by recent hurricanes receives the help they need.

FEMA Administrator Criswell made her own statement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying the agency takes reports of discrimination very seriously. Although she didn’t specify when or exactly where the incident took place, she assured the public that FEMA will work to make sure this “never happens again.”

Members of Congress were also quick to respond. Congressman James Comer announced he would call on Criswell to testify before the House Oversight Committee on November 19 to address the incident and FEMA’s response to it. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter calling for any officials involved in the decision to face prosecution if necessary.

This incident comes on the heels of a difficult few months for Florida, which has been hit by two major hurricanes. Last month, Hurricane Milton struck, resulting in at least 24 deaths and leaving millions of people without power. FEMA staff have been on the ground since then, surveying damage and helping residents apply for federal aid. Just two weeks before Milton, Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation, killing more than 200 people, primarily in North Carolina.

As Florida communities work to recover from back-to-back hurricanes, FEMA’s handling of disaster aid is facing scrutiny. For many residents, having reliable and impartial support from federal agencies like FEMA is critical in times of crisis. Critics say incidents like this one—whether isolated or part of a larger trend—can erode public trust in an organization that’s supposed to be above politics and focused solely on helping people in need.

Criswell’s statement concluded with a promise to prevent similar issues in the future, reassuring the public that FEMA’s top priority is to serve everyone impacted by disasters, regardless of political beliefs. As she put it, “Our mission is to support everyone affected by disasters, no matter who they are or what they believe.”

The upcoming House Oversight hearing will give lawmakers the chance to dig deeper into what happened and to look at FEMA’s procedures for making sure disaster response remains fair and neutral. In the meantime, residents affected by the hurricanes are counting on FEMA and other aid organizations to support them in rebuilding their lives.