U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is demanding answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following reports that hurricane relief workers were instructed to avoid homes displaying support for Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election. Initial investigations suggest at least 20 homes in Florida were denied access to government disaster assistance due to their political leanings. Grassley says, “Politicization of who receives FEMA assistance is unacceptable, especially as the people affected by these disasters attempt to put their lives back together. The American people deserve a more robust and detailed explanation of this problem and FEMA’s plans to fix it.” In a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Grassley cited allegations that a supervisor directed workers to skip at least 20 Florida homes with pro-Trump signs, reportedly entering notes like “Trump sign, no entry per leadership.” While FEMA terminated the employee responsible, the individual claimed the practice was widespread and part of a broader agency culture influenced by “safety concerns” and political bias. Grassley is calling for a thorough investigation and requested FEMA’s records and policies over the past five years related to any potential partisan decision-making. He also demanded details on how the agency plans to prevent similar actions in the future. Grassley’s full letter is included below.
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