FEMA official fired for holding Trump sign and avoiding hurricane-damaged home, says directive was broader

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official who was recently fired for instructing aid workers to avoid homes with President Trump signs said the directive was widespread, not just one person. Ta.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the subject, while patrolling the area after Hurricane Milton in Lake Placid, Florida, I was asked to avoid damaged homes with Trump signs posted outside. exposed a whistleblower story that supervisors told employees.

Marni Washington was fired for this incident, but messages between her and the workers left clear evidence of what they were doing.

A “best practices” document stating “Avoid homes promoting President Trump” and a message from an employee confirming “President Trump signs off on access by leadership” are a bit hard to argue with. Ta.

But Washington is leaking what she says are broader issues within FEMA. Other supervisors have issued similar directives, she said. Her incident was not an “isolated incident.”

When inspecting homes in Lake Placid after Hurricane Milton hit the small community, FEMA team leader Marni Washington said “best practices” were to “avoid homes advertising President Trump.” ” under her guidance, the rescue workers were ordered to do so. pic.twitter.com/IEmYrdIekM

— Leif LeMahieu (@leif_lemahieu) November 8, 2024

FEMA officials won’t stay silent.

Washington decided she shouldn’t be blamed for following orders that she claims were a little more widespread across FEMA.

That’s why she sat down with Roland Martin on the Black Star Network’s show Roland Martin Unfiltered to discuss the issue of discriminating against “politically hostile” homes when providing aid after natural disasters. suggested that this is the general policy.

In fact, she said, this practice is also practiced in North Carolina.

“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not an isolated thing,” Washington said. “This is a huge evasion event, not just in Florida, but you’ll see evasion in the Carolinas as well.”

There had We have received reports of isolated incident This included threats against FEMA officials during hurricane relief efforts, as the federal government struggled to coordinate recovery and people remained stranded and at risk for weeks.

But can you imagine if Trump administration officials had instructed aid workers to avoid homes displaying BLM flags in recognition of hostility?

A FEMA employee who was just fired in Florida for instructing employees to avoid hurricane-affected homes if they had President Trump’s signs says that Florida is not “quarantined” and that FEMA officials in the Carolinas are not “quarantining.” He said his staff had been instructed to do so. pic.twitter.com/BpBdZFSSPR

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 12, 2024

Related: U.S. House committee begins investigation into alleged misuse of FEMA funds

Leader says he knew

Washington’s argument is that the directive essentially amounts to tormenting people of certain political persuasions, and should result in extensive investigations and firings of FEMA officials.

And she wants you to know that upper management was complicit in this strategy, no matter what they say to the contrary.

“Senior leadership will lie to you and say they don’t know,” Washington claimed. “But when you ask, [Disaster Survivor Assistance] Crew leaders and experts tell us what they’re experiencing on the ground. ”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said his administration would launch an investigation into the FEMA scandal.