A Federal Emergency Management Agency employee has been removed from her role after she advised her disaster relief team to avoid homes with signs supporting President Donald Trump while canvassing in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the agency said Friday.
The FEMA spokesperson stated that the agency is deeply disturbed by the employee's actions and that the incident is currently under investigation. The employee in question has not been identified.
The agency clarified that the employee had no authority to issue such guidance and was not directed to tell teams to avoid homes with Trump signs. Steps have been taken to remove the employee from their role, and efforts are being made to reach out to those who may have been missed due to this incident.
Local media reports revealed that the employee instructed workers to avoid homes advertising Trump while canvassing in Lake Placid, Florida. An investigation is ongoing to determine how many houses were skipped during the canvassing on October 27.
FEMA has deployed a new team to knock on doors in the affected area to ensure contact with all residents. The agency expressed horror at the incident and emphasized that all survivors are assisted regardless of their political preference.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has directed state officials to investigate the matter, condemning the partisan weaponization of government by federal bureaucrats. He highlighted the need to address targeted discrimination against Floridians who support Donald Trump.
The FEMA spokesperson reiterated that the agency's mission is to help all survivors without bias based on political affiliation. The incident is being taken seriously, and corrective actions are being implemented at all levels.
