FEMA must be ‘completely revamped,’ says Rep. from hard-hit Hurricane region

Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donald blamed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), saying its recent response to multiple deadly storms showed the agency needed to be “completely revamped.” He claimed that there was.

“The thing that hurts FEMA's reputation the most is the fact that so many people are denied the first time they apply through the FEMA portal, and if they don't go through a Congressional office to get help, If not…if that happens…' We need a complete overhaul of the process by which people get help from the Emergency Management Agency,” Donald said at a House Oversight Committee hearing on FEMA on Tuesday. said.

Donald's comments came as Dean Criswell was asked by Republican members of the Oversight Committee for answers about FEMA's response to recent storms and accusations that FEMA discriminates against supporters of President-elect Trump. This was made during questioning of the FEMA Director.

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FEMA has come under fire for its response to Hurricanes Helen and Milton, which made landfall in the southeastern United States earlier this year and caused widespread damage in multiple states.

While the agency's overall performance in its response to the two storms has been at the center of controversy, members of the oversight board have repeatedly warned Criswell of potential “institutional bias” against Trump supporters in the response. asked them to answer.

The question comes after now-fired FEMA employee Marni Washington instructed relief workers to avoid homes with pro-Trump signs during the agency's cleanup and recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton. Criswell claimed in several responses during the hearing that the incident was isolated.

Oversight committee members repeatedly called on Criswell to answer for potential “institutional bias” in his response to Trump supporters. (Andrew Harnik/Associated Press)

FEMA worker says to avoid houses with Trump signs: 'I'd be lying if I said I was surprised'

In response to a question from Donald, Criswell said: “Our policies, training, and communications to field workers do not contain any content that discourages people from leaving their homes for any reason, especially because of political support.'' Nothing,” he said. “This one individual's actions are not representative of the work we do at FEMA.”

But Mr Donald, whose constituency was hit hard by Mr Milton, said that answer was “problematic” and claimed that such discrimination based on political affiliation was “overt discrimination”. He pointed to a report in the New York Post that featured FEMA officials. FEMA's secrets.

Criswell claims that the incident in question is being investigated by FEMA and that investigations into whether such issues are more widespread are still ongoing, prompting even more intense backlash from Donald Trump. did.

FEMA has come under fire for its response to Hurricanes Helen and Milton, which made landfall in the southeastern United States earlier this year and caused widespread damage in multiple states. (Julio Cortes/Associated Press)

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“You told me at the beginning of this interrogation that there was nothing in your policy that dictated that something like this happen, but you had one officer who was fired, and that officer said it does happen. There are other officials in your jurisdiction who are talking…” telling reporters that it is actually happening. “I cannot confirm to this commission whether these practices are actually occurring,” Donald said.

FEMA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.