A former FEMA employee has criticized the agency’s leadership and priorities after reports emerged that a supervisor directed aid workers to avoid homes displaying Trump signs. This directive has sparked outrage, raising questions about political bias and FEMA’s commitment to equity.
A “Glaring Political Line” in Relief Guidance
Chelsea Nied, who served with FEMA for 12 years and responded to 66 disasters across 22 states, expressed frustration over the situation. She noted that the incident, involving now-dismissed supervisor Marn’i Washington, was preventable and emblematic of broader issues within the agency.
“What was really striking about the list that Washington sent to relief workers was that you have a glaring political line after seeing common directions, like drink water, be hydrated, communicate,” Nied said. “And in my experience, particularly from being in external affairs, when you see something like that doesn’t look normal you need to escalate it.”
The controversy began when FEMA confirmed reports that aid workers were instructed to skip over homes with Trump campaign signs in Lake Placid, Florida, following Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Approximately 20 homes reportedly went without government assistance, according to The Daily Wire.
FEMA Faces Backlash Over Equity Priorities
Deanne Criswell, FEMA’s administrator, condemned Washington’s actions as “reprehensible.” While the agency described the event as an “isolated incident,” Washington disputed this claim during an appearance.
Nied believes the situation should have been handled internally. “The big problem with all of this is that this didn’t have to get spun out of control this far and this wide. It could have been resolved, shall we say, in house,” she said. “And I’ve done that before in FEMA where I’ve been given unethical orders like this, and I immediately escalated it.”
Equity Goals Called Into Question
The incident has drawn attention to FEMA’s equity agenda, outlined as a key strategic priority. Nied questioned the agency’s ability to uphold its stated mission, particularly when it comes to political inclusivity.
“Every year, every FEMA employee has to take mandatory anti-discrimination and equity courses, so when you’re seeing something like this, and you’re discriminating,” she said, “how can FEMA tout that it’s their number one strategic plan objective is equity for everybody, and then it’s not applied?”
Nied added, “Equity for everybody is everybody.”
Calls for Accountability and Investigation
The fallout has reached Capitol Hill, with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., denouncing the agency’s actions and pledging a full investigation. Luna, whose district was severely impacted by recent hurricanes, highlighted the human toll of the alleged discrimination.
“It’s unacceptable and on behalf of the federal government, I’d like my office to apologize, because this should never be acceptable, especially in regard to political discrimination and the fact that so many of you lost your homes during Hurricane Milton,” Luna said.
Her office is now investigating whether the Lake Placid incident was part of a broader pattern of misconduct. “There needs to be a full overhaul in FEMA and these people need to be held responsible and if that means criminals as well,” she said.
Human Cost of Political Discrimination
Luna underscored the potential consequences of denying assistance, noting that 13 people died in her district during the hurricanes. “We had 13 people die in my district, so when you hear about how these people are impacted, it’s very possible that there were health-related concerns about when you’re being denied FEMA help,” she said. “There’s definitely, I think, a liability here.”
As the investigation unfolds, Luna emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. “More importantly, I want to know how this can be avoided in the future and that’s exactly why President Trump’s pick for this position is so important,” she said.
