Republican Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has blasted the Biden-Harris administration’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for acting “politically hostile” toward American citizens.
On Friday, Grassley demanded that FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell respond to allegations that the agency has a widespread policy of refusing to help those who have non-left-wing political beliefs.
As Slay News reported, FEMA employees were told to avoid homes with pro-Trump signs during disaster relief operations.
Grassley asked Criswell to produce records related to now-fired FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington’s guidance for relief workers in Lake Placid, Florida, to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
Whistleblowers said that at least 20 homes were bypassed during the response efforts after Hurricane Milton.
FEMA workers refused to help those American citizens due to the guidance that was given verbally and in a group chat message.
Washington told workers that residents of homes with Trump signs would be “hostile.”
However, Grassley noted that FEMA was being “politically hostile” toward Americans who support President Donald Trump.
Grassley said he wants all records of conversations at FEMA that include any of the following words: “Trump,” “Republican,” “conservative,” “politics,” “MAGA,” as well as “germane variations thereof.”
In a letter, Grassley wrote:
“Every year, Americans affected by natural disasters receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“FEMA employees have reportedly selectively chosen who is worthy of receiving this assistance and Trump supporters don’t make the cut.”
The Iowa Republican added that the “politically partisan selection of aid is unacceptable and contrary to FEMA’s taxpayer-supported mission.”
Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Budget, asked Criswell to respond to Washington’s claims that FEMA officials approved her instructions.
Washington also claimed that similar guidance has been followed by FEMA in the Carolinas.
During an interview with Roland Martin earlier this week, Washington 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.”
FEMA has not responded to Washington’s claims about the agency’s policies.
“To know if this claim is substantively true, especially considering FEMA’s terminating her for inappropriate conduct, FEMA must produce responsive records to Congress,” Grassley wrote.
The letter asks FEMA to produce incident reports from the last five years by November 28.
Those reports must include references to Trump or politics and what official policies FEMA has in place for deciding what homes and properties can be skipped.
The senator requested FEMA produce records on what rationales have been given in the last five years for marking homes down as “not able to access property” when surveying neighborhoods after a disaster.
“Politicization of who receives FEMA assistance is unacceptable, especially as the people affected by these disasters attempt to put their lives back together,” Grassley wrote.
“The American people deserve a more robust and detailed explanation of this problem and FEMA’s plans to fix it.”
Other Republican senators have also demanded answers from Criswell.
Those lawmakers include Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Rand Paul (R-KY).
Criswell announced Washington’s firing last Saturday.
The FEMA chief has maintained that the situation in Lake Placid was isolated.
She is set to testify on Tuesday before the GOP-led House Oversight Committee.
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