CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Last week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, joined a letter—led by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.)— to U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell expressing concern over recent reports that a FEMA employee advised disaster assistance teams in Florida responding to Hurricane Milton to avoid homes that had yard signs supporting President-Elect Donald Trump. The employee has since claimed that the orders came from supervisors at FEMA, raising grave concerns over potential widespread politicization of disaster relief.
“We demand answers, accountability, and transparency to hold your agency accountable to the American people and ensure that FEMA employees are providing support to all victims. Given the shocking and reprehensible nature of these allegations, our constituents deserve immediate answers and maximum transparency. As Members of Congress, we are committed to holding those responsible accountable and making sure that rank weaponization against the American public is never tolerated,” the senators wrote.
Text of the full letter is available here.
Also last week, Senator Capito stated on social media her disgust with the recent reports that aid was withheld from individuals in distress due to their support for President-Elect Trump and made the case that FEMA should be more efficient and ensure that no one is withheld relief based on political affiliations.
The same day, Senator Capito raised this with the FEMA Administrator directly during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing to review disaster funding needs.
Senator Capito stated, “If that particular FEMA employee had come to West Virginia, we wouldn’t have gotten much help because we’ve got a lot of Trump signs all throughout our state."
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