Official report or statement from the FEMA Inspector General's office

FEMA Chief Deanne Criswell Testifies on Alleged Bias Against Trump Supporters, Pledges IG Probe Amid $100B Aid Request

Nov 19, 2024, 03:58 PM

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell testified before Congress on November 19th amid allegations that FEMA workers were instructed to avoid providing disaster relief to Trump supporters' homes displaying Trump signs during recent hurricanes, including Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Lawmakers, including Rep. Scott Perry and Rep. Byron Donalds, demanded answers and accountability, with Criswell pledging to request an independent investigation by the Inspector General into the claims. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability are leading efforts to investigate potential systemic bias within FEMA. Meanwhile, Congress is considering President Biden's request for nearly $100 billion in supplemental disaster relief funding, including approximately $40 billion for the FEMA disaster relief fund. Lawmakers from both parties emphasized the urgency of passing the disaster relief package to aid communities recovering from natural disasters. Some Republicans expressed concerns about FEMA's allocation of resources, alleging funds have been diverted to support illegal immigrants instead of American citizens. FEMA's Criswell affirmed the agency's commitment to support all disaster survivors without discrimination, emphasizing, "Our priority is the American people."