Federal officials are facing increased scrutiny after a whistleblower alleged that disaster relief efforts were intentionally denied to supporters of then-candidate Donald Trump. According to a report from The Daily Wire, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supervisor Marn’i Washington told employees under her authority to “avoid homes advertising Trump” while administering disaster relief in Lake Placid, Florida, following the devastating 2024 hurricane season. At least 20 houses with Trump signs or Trump flags displayed were skipped over by FEMA with employees designating the houses with variations of “Trump sign no entry per leadership.”

“When we got there, we were told to discriminate against people. It’s almost unbelievable to think that somebody in the federal government would think that’s okay,” one FEMA employee related. “I volunteered to help disaster victims, not discriminate against them. It didn’t matter if people were black, white, Hispanic, for Trump, for Harris. Everyone deserves the same amount of help.” Another employee filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the directive, writing, “If they had damage or lost power for over thirty-six hours, it was my duty to inform them of benefits to which they are entitled through FEMA.”

A FEMA spokesperson later said that agency officials were “deeply disturbed” and “horrified” by the directive and have “taken extreme actions to correct this situation,” including firing Washington from her role. FEMA administrator Deanna Criswell announced Saturday, “This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. This was reprehensible.” She continued, “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 added that the case had been referred to a special counsel for investigation.

Numerous Republicans have also launched or called for their own investigations. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced on social media, “At my direction, the [Florida] Division of Emergency Management is launching an investigation into the federal government’s targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump.” He added, “The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days. … New leadership is on the way in DC, and I’m optimistic that these partisan bureaucrats will be fired.”

DeSantis also warned incumbent President Joe Biden and FEMA leadership to preserve all records related to the incident. “Given the significant impact these decisions have on individuals and communities — many of whom are already vulnerable in the wake of a disaster — it is imperative that the full scope of any such misconduct be investigated and addressed,” a DeSantis representative told the White House and FEMA.

“This is outrageous and should be investigated and punished to every extent of the law,” said Florida’s Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R). The congresswoman also sent a letter to Criswell, saying, “It is completely unacceptable that a FEMA official was allowed to exploit Hurricane Milton to further their political beliefs at a time when Americans were struggling. … The opportunity to apply for federal aid through FEMA should never be used to discriminate against an individual.” She asked Criswell when FEMA was made aware of the controversial directive, whether the houses skipped have since been offered aid, what measures the agency has in place to ensure that directives are properly authorized, and how long FEMA’s own investigation will take. Criswell was given until November 25 to respond in full.

In an interview, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said of the FEMA directive, “Anybody involved with that should be fired immediately — not asked to resign, not brought in front of a congressional hearing, they should be fired immediately.” He added, “When it comes to FEMA, my recommendation for the Trump transition team is that FEMA becomes a standalone agency that directly reports to the White House. You have to get it out of Homeland Security. That agency is a massive labyrinth with a bunch of different departments.” Donalds continued, “FEMA should be a direct report agency to the White House because when disaster recovery needs to take place, we need quick answers out of FEMA, not bureaucratic ones that go through the labyrinth of federal departments.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) commented, “This is unconscionable discrimination, and Congress MUST INVESTIGATE!” Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) observed, “This is the bureaucratic state weaponized against [American] citizens.” He warned, “Accountability is coming.” Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) said that the episode is further evidence that the government has been “weaponized against roughly half of all Americans.”

Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) wrote in a letter to Criswell and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, “It is simply outrageous that any FEMA personnel, let alone a supervisor, would condition aid to victims based on their political views.” She added, “I appreciate that Administrator Criswell has condemned these actions and fired the supervisor, but the American people need answers regarding how this happened and if anyone else was complicit, as well as assurance it will not happen again.” Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also issued a letter, calling on the U.S. Inspector General to launch a full investigation. He classified the FEMA supervisor’s directive as “totally illegal.” He added, “Everyone involved needs to be identified, fired — and if necessary, prosecuted.”

The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security declared that it will be investigating the matter, and the House Oversight Committee has summoned Criswell to testify before Congress. “This hearing will address FEMA’s response to recent major natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and permit members to investigate recent reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying campaign signs for President Trump,” wrote Oversight Committee chairman James Comer (R-Ky.). He continued, “In the wake of the recent disasters that impacted Americans of all political persuasions, it is critical that FEMA adheres to its disaster relief mission.”

FEMA had been the subject of scrutiny and criticism earlier this year when it was alleged that the agency had spent more funds on housing and supporting illegal immigrants than on American citizens impacted by hurricanes. The agency was also accused of confiscating and diverting donations given to hurricane victims, funneling relief supplies and money to impacted urban areas and even to migrant shelters while neglecting rural and remote locations.