The FEMA political discrimination scandal that erupted in the aftermath of last year’s hurricanes has just deepened—and it’s far uglier than anyone originally imagined.
It started with disturbing eyewitness accounts: disaster survivors in Florida and the Carolinas, many with pro-Trump signs on their lawns or flags on their porches, mysteriously skipped over by FEMA field workers during critical recovery operations. FEMA at the time brushed off the reports, blaming logistical issues or safety concerns. But now, a year later, an official review by the Department of Homeland Security’s Privacy Office has confirmed what many feared: this wasn’t a fluke—it was systemic.
At the center of the controversy is Marn’i Washington, a now-fired FEMA official who shockingly admitted on record that bypassing homes with pro-Trump messaging was “not isolated.” Her defense? FEMA “preaches avoidance” in hostile situations—essentially framing conservative political signage as a threat.
Exclusive: FEMA Workers Improperly Collected Data About Politics of Disaster Victims
Politicized distribution of hurricane aid money before the 2024 election was no “isolated incident,” a Homeland Security follow-up report sadly concludeshttps://t.co/KfqEu59FEY pic.twitter.com/HieH9km2za
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) October 20, 2025
That alone would be enough to spark outrage. But the DHS Privacy Office’s investigation reveals even worse: FEMA workers were documenting political beliefs of disaster victims—tracking whether homes had Trump flags, MAGA gear, or even anti-Biden bumper stickers. These notes weren’t just scribbled in margins—they influenced decisions about where to send aid, who received outreach, and, in some cases, who got help at all.
This isn’t just bureaucratic overreach. It’s a textbook violation of the Privacy Act of 1974, which prohibits government agencies from collecting or maintaining records on Americans based on their political beliefs or First Amendment-protected speech—especially in the context of government benefits.
How did this happen? The answer lies in the Disaster Survivor Assistance Field Operations Guide, a FEMA document that directed workers to “remove yourself from the situation if you feel threatened.” The catch? “Threatened” was never defined. The result: if a FEMA worker felt uncomfortable because a homeowner displayed a “Trump 2024” sign or a “Let’s Go Brandon” flag, they had official cover to skip the house entirely.
This is more than just a flawed policy—it’s the federal government enabling political discrimination at the expense of American citizens in crisis. It mirrors the same subjective, feelings-based standard used to justify censorship on social media: if a government worker feels offended or unsafe, your rights—and in this case, your disaster relief—don’t matter.
The DHS report ties this behavior back to a pattern stretching as far back as 2021. During Hurricane Ida, FEMA workers flagged homes with “This is Trump Country” signage and “recommended no contact.” In other cases, brochures weren’t even left if the political content of a flyer or sticker made workers uncomfortable.
Kamala Harris thinks that aid for floods, hurricanes, tornados, & fires should be distributed based on race:
“Communities of color need more” pic.twitter.com/Lldd8tbcds
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 27, 2024
And this didn’t just happen in Florida. The DHS report confirms similar incidents in North Carolina, which FEMA paused citing an “armed militia” threat—despite no evidence of any widespread threat materializing.
To top it off, Vice President Kamala Harris added fuel to the fire when she publicly argued for disaster aid to be distributed according to “equity,” not equality. That means aid based on race, income level, or other identity markers—not impartial need. She said it plainly during a C-SPAN town hall: “We have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity… Sometimes we have to take into account those disparities.” That logic, paired with FEMA’s internal policies, becomes dangerously close to a system where politics and identity determine whether you get help when your home is underwater.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has already launched legal action, calling it “swift” and “essential” to restoring trust in FEMA. And Congress is demanding answers, especially from former FEMA director Deanne Criswell, who previously dismissed the allegations as an “isolated incident.”
They weren’t. And now, the paper trail proves it.
