NEW: Fired FEMA Supervisor Says Guidance To Deny Hurricane Aid To Trump Supporters Was Widespread
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supervisor who was recently fired for instructing Hurricane aid workers to ignore houses with Trump signs and flags has stated that her actions were consistent with agency-wide guidance, adding that the practice was not limited to her team alone.
The official, Marn’i Washington, gave the instructions both verbally and in a group chat used by relief workers who were surveying the damage from Hurricane Milton in the Lake Placid area last month, according to an explosive report from the Daily Wire. In a memo titled “Best Practices,” which was obtained by the outlet, a bullet point instructs workers to, “Avoid homes advertising Trump.”
Other bullet points instructed workers to focus on “de-escalation,” avoid traveling alone and to “follow the rules.”
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By ignoring the homes, residents were denied the opportunity to qualify for federal assistance in the wake of the disaster that killed hundreds and displaced thousands more in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.
Washington was ultimately fired after the report went public, while FEMA has claimed that she acted alone. “FEMA helps all survivors regardless of their political preference or affiliation and we are deeply disturbed by this employee’s actions,” an agency spokesperson told the New York Post. “While we believe this is an isolated incident, we have taken measures to remove the employee from their role and are investigating the matter to prevent this from happening ever again,” the statement added.
Washington, however, is claiming that the guidance was issued to all FEMA employees and was not limited to her team alone. During an appearance on the Roland Martin Unfiltered podcast Monday, Washington stated that workers were told to avoid homes deemed to be hostile or dangerous to workers.
“They all allege that these actions were made in my own recognizance and that it was for my own political advances. However, if you look at the record, there is what we call a ‘community trend,’ and, unfortunately, it just so happened that the political hostility that was encountered by my team … they just so happened to have the Trump campaign signage,” she said.
Washington further claimed that her instructions were given after workers had been verbally and physically threatened by hurricane victims with signs in support of the Republican nominee. She stated that her instructions were consistent with FEMA’s “avoidance” and de-escalation policy.
In addition, Washington rejected FEMA’s claim that the guidance was part of an isolated incident, stating that there were similar “avoidance” protocols in place in North Carolina.
Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know, but if you ask the DSA [disaster survivor assistance] crew leads and specialists what they are experiencing in the field, they will tell you,” she said. “FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated. This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
Last week, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) called for a hearing to be held in response to the incident on November 19. Washington stated that she would welcome a congressional investigation into FEMA’s instructions and policies.