Congress grilled Federal Emergency Management Agency Director DeAnne Criswell on Tuesday afternoon over allegations of political discrimination and her request for the agency's $40 billion disaster relief fund.
Transportation and infrastructure in the home hearingCriswell, a now-defunct hurricane relief official, admitted to directing workers to avoid homes with signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump during relief efforts after Hurricanes Helen and Milton. I was asked about Supervisor Marni Washington.
“That's pretty hard to defend.”
FEMA has repeatedly insisted that the situation is isolated, but the Washington government insists that the instructions to skip certain homes are not an isolated incident and that she is being used as a “scapegoat.” claimed that it had been done.
At Tuesday's hearing, Criswell told Congress, “I do not believe this employee's actions are indicative of a broader cultural problem at FEMA. However, FEMA is taking appropriate steps to ensure this matter is fully investigated.” We are taking steps and I am committed to ensuring that.” Don't let something like this happen again. ”
Criswell said the agency's “ongoing investigation,” which includes questioning members of the chain of command over Washington, “has not yielded any information at this time that there was anything beyond her.” [Washington’s] He told his employees to skip and take a detour from his home. ”
Criswell agreed to request an external investigation from FEMA's Office of Inspector General.
FEMA is asking Congress to provide the following information: 40 billion dollars May disaster relief continue until next year. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helen and Milton, the agency emphasized that emergency response resources are being depleted.
Several Republican members of Congress pressed Criswell about the agency's request for additional funding while the shelter and services program continues to provide a wide range of free services to undocumented immigrants.
In response, FEMA administrators focused their criticism back on Congress, noting that the Legislature created the program and required FEMA to oversee it.
Rep. Marcus Molinaro (RN.Y.) took issue with Criswell's defense, calling it “the easiest and most disingenuous argument.”
“You manage the only department of domestic policy that you have to triage and set priorities: your department,” Molinaro said. “You have the authority to decide which of the programs you currently run should be prioritized over others, and your department has the authority to decide which programs should be prioritized over others. “Yes, certainly. We can pass laws that limit funding for shelters and services and stop the inflow of dollars.'' But you have to make that decision every day. ”
Rep. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) asked a question Criswell talked about 20 Hurricane Katrina infrastructure projects that were funded by FEMA but never completed.
“Why, after 20 years, are there still unresolved projects by Katrina?” Ezell asked. “That's pretty hard to defend.”
Ezell called FEMA's failure to complete the project “absolutely outrageous.”
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Please register here!
