FEMA Bias Allegations Lead to Congressional Inquiry

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was questioned by Congress over allegations of political bias following the firing of a FEMA supervisor, Marn'i Washington, who instructed workers to avoid homes with Trump campaign signs during hurricane relief efforts. Criswell stated the incident was isolated and requested an Inspector General investigation to verify the claims. Washington alleged she followed orders for safety reasons, but Criswell emphasized that no evidence supports widespread discriminatory practices within FEMA. The hearings revealed a divided Congress, with Republicans questioning FEMA's processes and Democrats addressing misinformation concerns. Criswell assured lawmakers of FEMA's commitment to assisting all survivors and highlighted the need for $40 billion in disaster relief funding amid depleted resources. Despite the controversy, Criswell maintains that the agency's response to the hurricanes did not reflect any institutional bias.