Republican lawmakers grilled FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Tuesday over her agency’s handling of hurricane recovery efforts, including allegations of political bias.
The two House hearings, which lasted more than seven hours, came after Washington fired FEMA chief Marni after allegedly directing employees to avoid homes bearing President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign signs.
Criswell repeatedly told lawmakers that the incident was an isolated act and that FEMA is continuing its investigation, finding no additional incidents beyond Washington’s actions.
However, after being asked to launch an inspector general investigation, Criswell said he formally requested additional assistance.
After the shooting in Washington, an unidentified FEMA employee said the directive was from a superior. Criswell told lawmakers that while his agency has questioned other employees, no evidence has emerged to corroborate the claim.
The logo of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seen at its headquarters on August 27, 2011 in Washington.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
During a House Oversight Committee hearing, GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio asked Criswell if Washington was lying when he told reporter Roland Martin on #RolandMartinUnfiltered that it was common practice to avoid “politically hostile” houses.
Jordan noted that Criswell described the actions as “reprehensible” and “isolated.”
“You said it’s incriminating and isolated. Both statements can’t be true, so somebody’s not giving us the facts, and I’m trying to figure out who’s not telling the truth.” Jordan said.
“Miss Washington’s actions were unacceptable,” Criswell responded.
As for Washington’s claim that his directive was for security reasons, Criswell said security training for FEMA employees is about reacting to perceived threats. “It’s never aimed to be proactive or avoid a situation.”
Jordan cited another anonymous FEMA employee who alleged that Washington received “very clear instructions from his superiors.” Asked if that person was also lying, Criswell said he was investigating the matter.
“FEMA’s mission is to help all people,” Criswell said.
Rep. Jim Jordan shares a text message of FEMA’s responses during a House Oversight Committee hearing on Tuesday.
GOP oversight
During Jordan’s cross-examination, he showed text messages from FEMA workers telling them to implement best practices as they reached out to victims. Suggestions include avoiding high-salt diets and coffee, not going anywhere alone and “avoiding homes that advertise Trump.”
“We have the same text message, but you’re still saying, Miss Washington and this other person aren’t telling the truth?” Jordan pressed.
“Even though you say all these practical things, the part about avoiding Trump’s houses, that’s not best practice, that’s not common, is that what you’re saying?” Jordan asked.
“That’s nowhere in our policy,” Criswell countered.
Criswell told lawmakers he had requested an inspector general investigation into the incident and assured them there would be no cover-up or obstruction.
When asked if he had spoken to the 13 people included in the text message, Criswell said he had not.
“This is part of a mindset that exists in government. This is scary because I think it’s broader,” Jordan said.
The FEMA administrator told lawmakers the incident occurred in late October, and on November 7 it was brought to his attention, requested additional information, and by November 9, recommended Washington’s termination.
When pressed about whether the incident was part of a larger problem of political bias at FEMA, he told lawmakers, “I don’t think there’s an overarching cultural problem.”
House Oversight Chairman James Comer reported that a FEMA contractor in Georgia allegedly told an elderly veteran to remove Trump campaign materials or risk losing aid. The family was filled with fear, Comer said, “FEMA has not returned to its headquarters.”
The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin, asked for more information about the incident.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat from New Mexico, a former government staffer at the Office of Management and Budget, expressed disbelief about her GOP colleagues, saying, “I think it’s weird that we’re having this hearing.”
Although he admitted that Washington’s actions were “absolutely unacceptable”, he stated that the president-elect “deliberately and clearly gave up support to political rivals – from the state of California, from Puerto Rico, from communities that did not vote for him”.
