In a recent development, Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), a valued member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has teamed up with Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to address a concerning issue.
These senators have urged Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell to provide clarifications regarding allegations that an employee deliberately neglected to help the victims affected by Hurricane Milton based on their political beliefs. The lawmakers are seeking answers and accountability in this matter.
In a letter addressed to the concerned parties, a group of senators expressed their profound concern regarding recent reports about a FEMA employee allegedly advising disaster assistance teams in Florida to avoid homes displaying yard signs supporting President-Elect Donald Trump during the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
The statement strongly condemns the act of a FEMA employee withholding aid or support from a household based on their political affiliation. It emphasizes that such behavior is not acceptable and is, in fact, highly reprehensible.
While acknowledging the dedication of many public servants who tirelessly assist disaster survivors during their most vulnerable times, it highlights the failure of FEMA to fulfill its primary responsibility of providing disaster relief to all Americans affected by natural calamities.
“The senators expressed their concern over the possibility of citizens, who contribute to FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DFR) through their tax dollars and also pay the salaries of FEMA officials, being intentionally left out of essential aid.
This exclusion is not only alarming but also further diminishes the already fragile trust that many people have in this administration.
We call for explanations, accountability, and transparency to ensure that your agency is held responsible to the American people. It is crucial that FEMA employees provide support to all victims without discrimination,” the senators emphasized.
The senators are reaching out to Criswell for clarification on the following matters:
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- The number of houses that FEMA bypassed during the agency’s Hurricane Milton response,
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- when FEMA became aware of the employee’s misconduct,
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- what steps the agency will take to investigate the claim that FEMA officials told employees to avoid of households based on their political affiliation and
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- what laws FEMA believes its employees may have violated.
Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, John Hoeven of North Dakota, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Jim Risch of Idaho, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Rick Scott of Florida, and Tim Scott of South Carolina also added their signatures to the letter.
