FEMA administrator says she supports investigation of alleged Trump bias in relief efforts

Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington
FILE - Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told lawmakers Tuesday she has encouraged the agency’s inspector general to review whether an employee was acting alone when directing workers helping hurricane victims not to go to homes with yards signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said a critical function of the agency is to go door-to-door and meet with survivors to make them aware of federal resources available. The employee, she said, wrote to about 11 staffers under her supervision that they should “avoid homes advertising Trump.”

Criswell said her senior leadership team provided her with evidence and recommended that the employee be terminated. She concurred.