Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Deanne Criswell on Tuesday doubled down on her insistence that there is no evidence of widespread political discrimination within the agency — even when presented with evidence that employees have acknowledged it as a common practice.
Earlier this month, revelations surfaced that FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington instructed relief workers canvassing Lake Placid, Fla., to evade homes with 2024 campaign signs backing now-President-elect Donald Trump. Criswell denounced Washington’s actions.
“The evidence that I have seen so far shows that this was an isolated incident, and it has not gone beyond what this one employee did,” Criswell told lawmakers during a House Oversight Committee hearing.
“We have not finished our investigation. We have been working with the Office of the Inspector General. It was also referred to the Office of Special Counsel for a potential violation of the Hatch Act. And I have asked the Inspector General to do a full review of this incident.”
An official at FEMA corroborated Washington’s assertions, telling The Post last week that skipping houses with Trump banners and “white or conservative-dominated” disaster areas was common practice — which was noted by several lawmakers at the hearing.
In response to questions about The Post’s reporting, Criswell only told lawmakers that the situation is “still under investigation.”
“We are working with the inspector general to determine whether or not this is broader than this, but the evidence that I have seen so far shows that this was an isolated incident, and it has not gone beyond what this one employee did,” she reiterated.
Washington, 39, was promptly fired from her role after a bombshell Daily Wire report that she told subordinates both verbally and via Microsoft Teams to “avoid homes” with Trump signs.
She had also penned a “best practices” memo advising employees to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
Following her termination, Washington did an interview with YouTube podcaster Roland Martin claiming that it was common practice to avoid “politically hostile” homes.
“FEMA preaches avoidance first, and then de-escalation. This is not isolated. This is a colossal event of avoidance,” Washington claimed. “Not just in the state of Florida. You will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
During her testimony, Criswell was adamant that there was no such FEMA policy to avoid houses based on political persuasion.
Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) fired back: “It’s not in the policy for the IRS to target conservatives. It’s not in the policy for NIH to fund gain-of-function research. It’s not in DHS policy for them to release foreign terrorists into our land, but they are. It’s not policy of the FBI to target school teachers or people of faith — but all this is happening.”
To rectify the situation, Criswell indicated that she would be willing to turn over communications between upper-level management at FEMA as well as supervisors and their field representatives to the Oversight Committee when asked by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.)
“We always cooperate with Congress on the information that they request, and we will continue to cooperate throughout this,” she replied. “We are prepared to support requests for information.”
Criswell also revealed that following the Lake Placid incident, FEMA has contacted the community that had been affected by the agency’s blind eye.
“We sent a team in there and they have made contact with everybody in that community,” she said.
Residents of Lake Placid who said that they initially hadn’t seen significant FEMA activity in the wake of two hurricanes that battered the Sunshine State, confirmed that they have since spotted numerous relief workers after the scandal broke.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged Lake Placid, home to some 2,360 people, but the most significant devastation was caused by a tornado last month. More than two dozen homes there are believed to have been destroyed.
Criswell faced an avalanche of questions from lawmakers during her hearing before the Oversight Committee and reassured them that she was taking the matter seriously.
During her opening remarks, she emphasized that Washington’s instructions were “completely at odds with FEMA’s mission.”
“I do not believe that this employee’s actions are indicative of any widespread cultural problems at FEMA,” she said.
“I want to ensure that the American people know that FEMA is there to support all people, which is why we are conducting an investigation,” she later added during the hearing. “It is completely unacceptable.”
Criswell also revealed that FEMA employees have been given a refresher on the agency’s best practices.
Her testimony comes as Congres is set to weigh President Biden’s sprawling roughly $98 billion request for supplemental funding for disaster relief, including $40 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.
Biden rolled out the request Monday and House Speaker Mike Johnson is reviewing the proposal and has hinted that the lower chamber will take up some sort of relief measure.
“Now that we’re back in session, we’re going to continue to provide for the American people with the resources that are desperately needed,” Johnson said during a press conference Tuesday.
Congress has a deadline of Dec. 20 to fund the government or face a shutdown.
