Mark Green
11/22/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Homeland Republicans Request Transcribed Interviews with FEMA Leadership, Former Employee Marn'i Washington Over Political Discrimination in Disaster Relief
Homeland Republicans Request Transcribed Interviews with FEMA Leadership, Former Employee Marn'i Washington Over Political Discrimination in Disaster Relief
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chairman Dan Bishop (R-NC), and Emergency Management and Technology Chairman Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY) sent letters to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell and former FEMA employee Marn'i Washington, demanding transcribed interviews following shocking reports of Washington's guidance to fellow aid workers to "avoid homes advertising Trump" when surveying for potential recipients of disaster relief in Florida after Hurricane Milton.
In addition to Criswell and Washington, the Chairmen have requested transcribed interviews with Washington, as well as Washington's direct supervisor on the Disaster Survivor Assistance crew, Chad Hershey; FEMA Region 4 Regional Administrator Robert Samaan; and FEMA Region 4 Deputy Administrator Robert P. Ashe. Read the full letter to Administrator Criswell here.
After The Daily Wire broke the story on the alleged political discrimination, Criswell notified the public of Washington's termination, claiming this was an isolated incident that does not reflect FEMA policies or behavior. However, following the administrator's statement, Washington claimed in an interview that such guidance was an institutional policy at FEMA.
Read the full letter to Washington here.
In addition to Criswell and Washington, the Chairmen have requested transcribed interviews with Washington, as well as Washington's direct supervisor on the Disaster Survivor Assistance crew, Chad Hershey; FEMA Region 4 Regional Administrator Robert Samaan; and FEMA Region 4 Deputy Administrator Robert P. Ashe. Read the full letter to Administrator Criswell here.
After The Daily Wire broke the story on the alleged political discrimination, Criswell notified the public of Washington's termination, claiming this was an isolated incident that does not reflect FEMA policies or behavior. However, following the administrator's statement, Washington claimed in an interview that such guidance was an institutional policy at FEMA.
Read the full letter to Washington here.
In the letter to Administrator Criswell, the Chairmen write, "The Committee on Homeland Security (Committee) is investigating the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) potential discrimination against disaster victims based on political affiliation. On November 8, 2024, the media reported a story alleging that during recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton, a FEMA employee instructed relief workers to pass over homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald J. Trump. In a November 9 press release, Administrator Criswell confirmed the report. Administrator Criswell further indicated that this employee had been terminated and that her actions did not reflect the attitudes, behavior, or actions of FEMA.
"In an interview following her termination, the former FEMA employee, Marn'i Washington, claimed that her instructions to FEMA workers were not exceptional, but rather that FEMA has an institutional policy of avoiding "politically hostile" households, including those with signs bearing support for President-elect Donald J. Trump. Ms. Washington's statement contradicts Administrator Criswell's press release and points to a possibly systemic bias within FEMA against individuals that support President-elect Donald J. Trump. If such bias is present within FEMA, the Committee is deeply concerned that households that support President-elect Trump and even neighborhoods consisting of primarily Republican-aligned households might be receiving diminished levels of resources, manpower, and support, significantly protracting recovery following natural disasters."
In the letter to Washington, the Chairmen write, "While FEMA may maintain that this was an isolated incident, you suggested in a recent interview that this practice of discrimination was widespread throughout FEMA, including in disaster response efforts in North Carolina. Government discrimination against American citizens based on a political sign or flag promoting a particular candidate is not only an outrageous abuse of power and a serious betrayal of the public trust, but a direct violation of the First Amendment. This discrimination has no place in our government, and the Committee is determined to ensure that such actions do not occur again in any of FEMA's operations.
"The Committee seeks to uncover the complete nature and extent of FEMA's misconduct in withholding federal assistance from Americans based on political affiliation. Your observations and experience with FEMA's Disaster Survival Assistance Task Force are vital to the Committee's investigation."
###