FEMA broke laws by skipping Florida homes with Trump signs after 2024 hurricane: inspector general

A Federal Emergency Management Agency crew that was helping with the response to Hurricane Milton in 2024 violated the law and agency policy when it skipped nearly a dozen homes in Florida that displayed signs supporting Donald Trump, who was at the time running for reelection, according to a new report by a federal watchdog. 

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General found that skipping the homes “eroded public trust in FEMA’s ability to treat everyone impartially, offer unbiased and consistent assistance, and ensure equal access to resources and tools," the Washington Post reported. 

After two hurricanes struck Florida within two weeks of each other in late September and early October 2024, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews canvassed 744,288 homes and other sites as part of the response to the storms. The crews decided not to contact 555,374 locations for reasons, including private-property signs or safety concerns. 

During the response, the leader of a FEMA crew told team members to avoid homes with Trump signs due to safety concerns. As a result, the crew avoided 11 homes in Florida, according to the report. After controversy erupted over the decision, the crew leader and several other staffers involved in the incident were fired. 

The inspector general report concluded that the incident shows weaknesses in the agency's training and the need for policies requiring crews to explain why they skipped homes. 

"In October 2024, FEMA officials received a complaint alleging that a DSA crew leader instructed their team to avoid homes in Florida advertising support for then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump following Hurricane Milton," according to the 25-page report dated Aug. 18.