Submitted by Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana
Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has teamed up with Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to seek answers from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell. The demand for answers comes in response to reports suggesting that a FEMA employee deliberately neglected to provide assistance to the victims of Hurricane Milton due to their political affiliation.
In a letter addressed to FEMA, a group of senators expressed their grave concern regarding recent reports. The reports suggest that a FEMA employee instructed disaster assistance teams in Florida to steer clear of homes displaying yard signs in support of President-Elect Donald Trump during the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. The senators found this alleged behavior troubling and have sought clarification on the matter.
The individuals expressed their strong disapproval of any FEMA employee who would refuse aid or assistance to a household based on political affiliation. They found such behavior to be completely unacceptable and morally wrong. While acknowledging the hard work and dedication of many public servants who tirelessly assist disaster survivors during their most vulnerable moments, they believed that FEMA has failed to fulfill its primary objective of providing disaster relief to all Americans affected by natural disasters.
The senators expressed deep concern about the possibility of citizens being intentionally excluded from receiving crucial aid, despite their tax dollars funding FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DFR) and the salaries of FEMA officials. This exclusionary practice not only undermines people’s already fragile trust in the administration but also raises serious questions about accountability and transparency. The senators called for answers and demanded that the agency be held responsible to the American people, emphasizing the need for FEMA employees to provide support to all victims.
The senators are asking Criswell to provide answers regarding the following:
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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.
The letter was also signed by Senators 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.