DeSantis calls for investigation after FEMA workers stay away from homes

HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for an investigation into FEMA following allegations from FEMA volunteers who told the Daily Wire they were instructed to bypass the homes of supporters of President-Elect Donald Trump while surveying damage in Highlands County. Hurricane Milton.

Workers in Lake Placid avoided about 20 homes “advertising Trump,” according to internal text messages reviewed by the publication.

Governor DeSantis said the Florida Department of Emergency Management will investigate the incident.

The open weaponization of the government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is entering its final days.

At my direction, the Division of Emergency Management is launching a federal investigation into the incident… https://t.co/3uFpE62vxb

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 8, 2024

Dozens of GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, have also weighed in on the issue.

When career bureaucrats weaponize the federal government against people when they need help most, that’s a fireable offense. They need to be blacklisted so they never work in government again.

We must help EVERYONE, regardless of their politics, and we are certainly welcome… https://t.co/zxyObud5Wb

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 8, 2024

I just took swift action for the American people and demand answers from them. @FEMA_Deanne He explained why Americans are discriminated against by their government based on who they support in the election. The findings are disgusting and we need accountability.

You have until 11/25. pic.twitter.com/Jz2gQVmhpc

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) 9 November 2024

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a FEMA spokesperson said the agency was “deeply disturbed” after the incident and told the official who gave the order that “teams were not given any instructions to stay away from these homes.”

FEMA’s Full Statement to Fox News Digital:

“FEMA assists all survivors regardless of political preferences or affiliations, and we are deeply disturbed by this employee’s actions. While we believe this was an isolated incident, we have taken steps to remove the employee from his duties and are investigating the matter to prevent this. We have not had the authority to tell people to stay away from these homes, and we are reaching out to those who have been unreachable due to this incident, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that all survivors receive support from FEMA to date. We have assisted households and provided over $898 million in direct assistance to survivors. We are appalled that this is happening and that is why we have taken extreme measures to remedy this situation and ensured that the issue is addressed at every level, helping people is what we do best and our workforce across the organization is “No matter how long it takes, he will continue to serve the survivors.”

This is an evolving story.