In the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes in Florida, entire communities are still struggling to rebuild. Trees were uprooted, homes flooded, and roads impassable. As residents prepared for the long road to recovery, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began sending teams to assess the damage and provide aid. However, it was reported that a FEMA supervisor in Florida directed workers to withhold disaster aid from homes displaying support for President Trump. While the supervisor has since been fired, questions remain about whether this was an isolated incident or reflective of a broader culture within FEMA.
That is why this week the House Oversight and Accountability Committee held a hearing to conduct oversight of FEMA. The hearing focused on troubling allegations of political discrimination within FEMA and concerns about whether partisan bias has influenced the agency’s disaster response efforts.
During the hearing, I raised significant concerns about the political activity of the FEMA employee’s union, which represents a substantial portion of the agency's workforce. In the 2024 election cycle, over 96% of the union's political contributions went to Democratic candidates and causes. Similarly, in 2020, over 95% of contributions were directed toward Democrats. Such overwhelming partisan alignment raises legitimate concerns about whether the union’s influence creates an environment of political bias in the agency. FEMA’s mission is critical—delivering disaster relief in times of great need—and it is essential that the agency’s operations remain impartial. However, when the union representing FEMA employees is so heavily involved in partisan politics, it is fair to question whether its priorities or influence could shape FEMA’s decision-making and foster an environment where political discrimination, such as the incident in Florida, could occur.
The American people deserve to know that FEMA is impartial, and that disaster relief is distributed fairly—based on need, not politics. I will continue working to hold FEMA accountable to ensure that disaster survivors across the country can trust the agency to provide aid free from political influence. Watch my questioning of FEMA Administrator Criswell below.
