**FEMA Administrator Calls for Investigation into Politically Charged Employee Actions**

The chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Deanne Criswell, informed lawmakers on Tuesday that she had urged the agency's inspector general to investigate whether an employee who instructed workers to avoid homes with signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump had acted independently. During a House subcommittee hearing on FEMA's response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Criswell emphasized that a key role of the agency is to connect directly with disaster survivors to inform them about federal aid resources.

The incident came to light when an employee directed around 11 subordinates to "avoid homes advertising Trump." Following the revelation, Criswell’s senior leadership team recommended her termination, a decision with which Criswell agreed. She stated, "I do not believe that this employee's actions are indicative of any widespread cultural problems at FEMA." Criswell also voiced her support for an independent review to determine whether the issue was isolated or indicative of broader practices within the agency.

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., noted that although the employee was terminated promptly, an interview suggested she believed she was following directions from higher-ups. Perry, chairing the examining panel, stressed the need to hold more people accountable if that assertion proved accurate. He remarked, "It seems this particular worker believes she is being treated like the scapegoat, and if that is the case, more people at FEMA must be held accountable."

Criswell affirmed her commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future, stating, "nothing like this ever happens again." She disclosed that another team was dispatched to visit all the homes previously bypassed due to the employee’s instructions.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., representing a district severely impacted by Hurricane Helene, criticized FEMA's delayed response time. He highlighted that although the storm subsided on September 27, it took three days for FEMA to become visible in the affected areas. Edwards pointed out that this delay left around 1 million people without power and 25 water systems destroyed. He described the situation: "There were folks in their homes not only without power, they couldn't flush the toilet, they had no drinking water. We were shut off from the rest of the world."

Despite the criticisms, Criswell praised the efforts of approximately 22,000 FEMA workers across six states who worked diligently to aid survivors. She discussed the challenge of managing misinformation on social media while ensuring equitable assistance. She also noted that about 7,500 FEMA workers remained deployed as of last week in states affected by the hurricanes.

Criswell addressed a second panel in the afternoon when Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, questioned why the terminated employee might not have acted alone. Criswell responded, "I understand your concern and share your concern. I want to ensure the American people know that FEMA is there to support all people, which is why we are conducting an investigation and why we have asked the IG to look into this further."

In the wake of the hurricanes, President Joe Biden has requested nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid, with roughly $40 billion earmarked for FEMA programs, showcasing the critical need for effective and impartial disaster response.