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Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) today asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General to conduct an investigation of incidents in which Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees actively avoided homes in disaster areas that displayed political signs and flags associated with the Trump campaign.

The T&I Committee, which has oversight and legislative jurisdiction of FEMA, has opened an investigation of the agency, and is now acting to ensure the Inspector General conducts its own investigation as well.  “On November 19, 2024, Administrator Deanne Criswell appeared on Capitol Hill and provided conflicting testimony regarding whether your office has initiated an investigation into instances of political targeting by FEMA during its disaster recovery efforts,” Chairs Graves and Perry wrote to DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari.  “The Committee is requesting that you immediately open an investigation into the multiple allegations of the deliberate avoidance of homes with Trump campaign or political signs during the agency’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.”

Graves and Perry cited the reported incidents in Lake Placid, Florida, but disputed Administrator Criswell’s assertion that it was isolated to one employee and one incident.  The Chairs wrote, “the former FEMA employee reported that FEMA employees avoided homes with Trump campaign signs in multiple states that were impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.  In North Carolina, the Committee is aware of reports of FEMA employees skipping any home that displayed a ‘Make America Great Again,’ ‘Drain the Swamp,’ ‘Don’t Tread on Me,’ or Trump campaign sign.… FEMA leadership has given no indication of whether it will perform additional outreach to homes in North Carolina that were not canvassed as a result of this policy.

“The Committee also has serious concerns regarding the alleged disclosure of the terminated FEMA employee’s personal information and home address as well as her allegations that FEMA records may have been deleted. During her testimony before the Committee, Administrator Criswell asserted that all agency records are preserved and that she would send any requested records to the Committee to assist its investigation. The Committee requests that you notify staff if your office should uncover any deleted records relevant to this investigation.”

Graves and Perry, in asking the Inspector General to open an investigation and provide the Committee with regular briefings, said, “FEMA must work to restore the trust of the American people, and your office plays a crucial role in bringing transparency and accountability to the agency.”

Read the full letter to the DHS Inspector General here.