The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said it fired three people who were associated with a supervisor’s directive to skip homes with President Trump’s campaign signs while facilitating Hurricane Milton disaster relief efforts following an investigation.
“That investigation has concluded, and upon my review of all related materials, three additional individuals have been terminated. This action has been taken both because of their failure to meet the standards of conduct and because it is essential that the entire workforce understand that this incident was reprehensible and this type of behavior will not be tolerated at FEMA,” Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton wrote in a letter to House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.)
“The OPR [Office of Professional Responsibility] investigation found no evidence that this was a systemic problem, nor that it was directed by agency or field leadership,” he added.
The agency fired Marn’i Washington in November of 2024 for directing her subordinates to avoid homes with Trump signs, which the Office of Special Counsel said was a direct violation of the Hatch Act’s regulations on electioneering.
“Political affiliation should never be a factor in distributing taxpayer-funded disaster relief to Americans. I applaud FEMA for holding bad actors accountable and the Trump Administration for taking measures to ensure this never happens again at the agency,” Comer said in a Friday statement on the three additional firings.
“Americans demand accountability in Washington and President Trump and his administration are delivering it.”
Washington claimed she was acting on FEMA’s policy to direct employees to avoid homes where there are hostile encounters which former administrator Deanne Criswell vehemently denied.
Criswell left FEMA in January after facing pushback for the agency’s response to Hurricane Helene and Milton which devastated communities in the southeast.
“It has been an honor serving as @FEMA Administrator for nearly four years. The FEMA family takes immense pride in our mission of helping people before, during and after disasters,” the former administrator wrote in a statement on X.
“I know the agency will continue to serve the nation as we support this peaceful transition of power.”
Hamilton, who was selected to serve in her absence, said he has since directed team members to undergo additional training to ensure FEMA’s staff provides impartial assistance regardless of political affiliation.
