House Republicans call for FEMA briefing on alleged discrimination against Florida Trump supporters

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Thursday to brief the panel regarding allegations that an agency official in Florida told disaster relief workers to skip houses with pro-Trump signs in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

A whistleblower filed a complaint regarding the incident last week, stating that employees were allegedly told in late October that they should skip houses of Trump supporters when canvassing in Lake Placid, Florida. At least 20 houses were reportedly skipped over the guidance.

The committee Republicans requested FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell brief the group by Dec. 2, including about what the agency is doing to accommodate the families that were not given the opportunity to qualify for FEMA assistance.

“As the FEMA Administrator, you are responsible for leading the Nation’s efforts to prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters," the committee said in a letter shared with The Hill. "The Committee is troubled that under your leadership FEMA failed to aid all Americans, regardless of party affiliation."

The committee also requested all documents and communications in the agency regarding the incidents and what policies are being implemented to “prevent future political discrimination.”

The agency already confirmed that it terminated the employee who was responsible for the order, and said the staffer did not have the authority to issue the guidance and was not told to do so. 

Florida officials have also launched their own probe into the incident, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a lawsuit against Criswell on Wednesday, accusing the administrator of "agree[ing]" to allow the employees to skip the pro-Trump houses.

The employee accused of issuing the order claimed she is being used as a scapegoat, and that the decision to skip the houses was because of alleged "verbal abuse" by the Trump supporters.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.