Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), accusing the federal agency of discriminating against victims of natural disasters based on their political affiliations. The lawsuit stems from allegations that FEMA employees withheld aid from hurricane survivors who were visibly supportive of then-President-elect Donald Trump.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, follows the revelation earlier this week that FEMA terminated one of its employees, Marn’i Washington, for allegedly instructing her team to avoid homes displaying Trump-related yard signs in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Both storms devastated parts of Florida in September and October, and the lawsuit claims this political bias may have contributed to delays or denial of aid.
In a statement, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell condemned the actions, emphasizing that such behavior runs counter to FEMA’s core values. “This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles, which are rooted in serving the public impartially, regardless of political affiliation,” Criswell said.
However, Washington, who was dismissed from her role following an internal investigation, has disputed the allegations, claiming that her actions were in line with a broader trend within FEMA’s teams. According to Washington, it was a standard practice for field teams to avoid certain areas where they had encountered hostility in the past, not based on the political leanings of residents but due to prior confrontations.
“The decision to avoid certain homes was based on a pattern of previous hostile encounters during disaster responses,” Washington stated. “Unfortunately, some of those homes had Trump signs, which led to this misunderstanding.”
Attorney General Moody responded to the controversy, asserting that this incident is part of a troubling trend where political bias has influenced the distribution of disaster relief. “Hurricane season is far from over, and FEMA is embroiled in scandal,” Moody said in a statement. “It is unacceptable for any federal agency to let political views determine who receives assistance in times of need.”
The Florida lawsuit names both FEMA and Washington as defendants. The suit calls for a full investigation into FEMA’s practices and seeks to ensure that future disaster relief is distributed equitably, free from political bias. As of now, FEMA has declined to comment further on the ongoing litigation.
FEMA, known for its role in coordinating federal disaster response and relief efforts, has yet to respond to specific allegations made by Washington regarding her treatment within the agency.
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