A FEMA official ordered relief workers to bypass homes displaying Trump signs while assessing damage from Hurricane Milton in Florida, according to a whistleblower report first published by The Daily Wire. Internal correspondence obtained by The Daily Wire and confirmed by several federal employees shows that the directive was given by Marn’i Washington, a FEMA supervisor, who told her team to “avoid homes advertising Trump” as they surveyed affected areas.
In a group chat used by the relief team, Washington instructed, “Best practice is to avoid homes advertising Trump.” The directive was issued verbally on October 22 and repeated in the chat on October 27, photos reviewed by The Daily Wire reveal. Federal employees reported that at least 20 homes with Trump signs were skipped during the relief efforts, depriving these residents of an opportunity to apply for FEMA aid. Internal notes from the system used by relief workers showed entries like, “Trump sign, no entry per leadership” and “Per leadership, no stop Trump flag.”
“I thought we were here to help disaster victims, not discriminate against them,” one whistleblower stated. “It’s almost unbelievable to think that somebody in the federal government would think that’s okay. It didn’t matter if people were Black, white, Hispanic, for Trump, for Harris — everyone deserves the same amount of help.”
The whistleblower complaint, filed with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), argues that the guidance undermined trust in FEMA’s response efforts, raising concerns of political discrimination. “This behavior raises significant concerns of discrimination against United States citizens because of their political views,” the complaint read. “These actions not only undermine the integrity of our agency but also threaten the very democracy of our country.”
The FEMA directive came amid criticism of the Biden administration’s response to natural disasters, including delays in relief efforts following Hurricane Helene in rural areas like Roan Mountain, Tennessee, where FEMA took nearly two weeks to arrive. The Trump-related instructions were later deleted from the group chat, and by October 30, Washington began to walk back the guidance after a meeting with FEMA administrators. However, employees report that Washington was not punished and was instead relocated to another county in Florida.
Chad Hershey, Washington’s supervisor, acknowledged the situation in a statement to The Daily Wire. “We are aware of it and we are taking proper action,” Hershey said, adding that FEMA officials in Washington, D.C., were handling the matter. A FEMA spokesperson later confirmed that the agency was “deeply disturbed” by the guidance and had taken immediate steps to address the issue.
“This is a matter that we take extremely seriously,” the FEMA spokesperson said. “We have removed the employee from their role pending an investigation and are reaching out to individuals who may have been missed as a result of this incident. To date, we have helped over 365,000 households affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida, providing more than $898 million in direct assistance.”
The spokesperson added, “We are horrified that this took place and have ensured that the matter was addressed at all levels. Helping people is what we do best, and our workforce will continue to serve survivors for as long as it takes.”
The guidance to skip Trump-supporting homes has sparked outrage among conservative circles, as well as within FEMA itself. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about potential political bias within federal agencies, especially when it comes to disaster relief efforts. The Daily Wire’s investigation into the matter has brought these issues to the forefront, prompting further scrutiny of FEMA’s practices and the political motivations behind its decision-making.