WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell faced a grilling in the House Tuesday over FEMA’s response to recent hurricanes, including an employee who told workers to ignore homes with yard signs supporting Donald Trump.
Even though lawmakers were conducting hearings looking at FEMA’s overall response to recent storms, many of them were concerned about the reports of workers avoiding some Americans.
“This is unacceptable. Americans demand accountability,” Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said.
FEMA’s administrator told lawmakers she fired an employee who directed workers helping hurricane victims to avoid homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump.
But they want more done, including an Inspector General investigation.
“I would welcome an investigation by the IG,” Criswell said.
Criswell said the employee’s actions were against FEMA’s mission.
“I do not believe that this employee’s actions are indicative of any widespread cultural problems at FEMA,” Criswell said.
Republicans like Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) are still furious.
“Clearly something is wrong with FEMA’s process,” Perry said.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) said she was also upset.
“I condemn the employee’s decision,” Titus said.
However, Marn’i Washington, the fired employee, told NewsNation the order came from a supervisor out of safety concerns based on previous interactions.
“It’s not about the campaign signage as much more as the community trend that comes along with that campaign signage,” Washington said.
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.) pressed Criswell on help for the skipped homes.
“We have also sent in an additional team to go to those 20 homes that we have identified as having been skipped over,” Criswell said.
Criswell reassured lawmakers that FEMA workers will help all survivors, but misinformation on social media makes their work harder.
