Nashville Standard

House Republicans have called for transcribed interviews with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials and a former employee following allegations of political discrimination in disaster relief efforts. The request comes after reports surfaced that Marn'i Washington, a former FEMA employee, allegedly instructed aid workers to "avoid homes advertising Trump" during assessments for disaster relief eligibility in Florida post-Hurricane Milton.

Chairman Mark E. Green (R-TN), Dan Bishop (R-NC), and Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) have sent letters to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and other relevant individuals, including Washington's supervisor Chad Hershey, Region 4 Regional Administrator Robert Samaan, and Deputy Administrator Robert P. Ashe. They are seeking interviews to investigate these claims further.

The controversy began when The Daily Wire reported on the alleged political bias, leading to Washington's termination by FEMA. Criswell stated this was an isolated incident not reflective of FEMA's policies. However, Washington countered in an interview, suggesting that avoiding politically marked households was an institutional practice at FEMA.

In correspondence with Criswell, the Chairmen expressed concern over potential systemic bias within FEMA against supporters of President-elect Donald J. Trump. They emphasized the need to ensure equal distribution of resources irrespective of political affiliation.

Addressing Washington directly, the Committee underscored that government discrimination based on political signs is a violation of public trust and the First Amendment. The investigation aims to uncover any misconduct within FEMA regarding federal assistance allocation based on political beliefs.