FEMA boss denies widespread problem of anti-Trump discrimination, promises transparency

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Deanne Criswell on Tuesday doubled down on her insistence that there is no evidence of widespread political discrimination within the agency — even when presented with evidence that employees have acknowledged it as a common practice.Earlier this month, revelations surfaced that FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington instructed relief workers canvassing Lake Placid, Fla., to evade homes with 2024 campaign signs backing now-President-elect Donald Trump.Criswell denounced Washington’s actions.“The evidence that I have seen so far shows that this was an isolated incident, and it has not gone beyond what this one employee did,” Criswell told lawmakers during a House Oversight Committee hearing.“We have not finished our investigation.

We have been working with the Office of the Inspector General.It was also referred to the Office of Special Counsel for a potential violation of the Hatch Act.

And I have asked the Inspector General to do a full review of this incident.”An official at FEMA corroborated Washington’s assertions, telling The Post last week that skipping houses with Trump banners and “white or conservative-dominated” disaster areas was common practice — which was noted by several lawmakers at the hearing.In response to questions about The Post’s reporting, Criswell only told lawmakers that the situation is “still under investigation.”“We are working with the inspector general to determine whether or not this is broader than this, but the evidence that I have seen so far shows that this was an isolated incident, and it has not gone beyond what this one employee did,” she reiterated.Washington, 39, was promptly fired from her role after a bombshell Daily Wire report that she told subordinates both verbally and via Microsoft Teams to “avoid homes” with Trump signs.She had also penned a “best practices” memo advising employees to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”Foll...