Ernst Demands Answers on Politicization of FEMA During Hurricane Recovery Efforts

WASHINGTON – After recent reports that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) skipped over homes that had Trump signs, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined her colleagues in demanding answers on the potential politicization of disaster relief.  

Ernst is pushing for answers, accountability, and transparency since a former FEMA employee has stated that the order came from her supervisors and staff were allowed to skip houses that made them feel “unsafe,” comparing Trump supporting signs to encountering a “vicious dog.”

“FEMA’s mission is ‘helping people before, during, and after disasters.’ When a natural disaster overwhelms state and local resources, FEMA is the option of last resort to help American families rebuild their lives in times of great distress and upheaval. For a FEMA employee to withhold aid or support from a household due to political affiliation is unacceptable and frankly reprehensible,” wrote the senators.

“While we appreciate your swift condemnation of these actions and termination of the responsible employee, your former employee has made subsequent claims that this was not an isolated incident, even happening in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene brought devastating rains and floods the likes of which we have never seen. The idea that citizens, whose tax dollars fund FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) and pay FEMA officials’ salaries, may be purposely excluded from vitally needed aid is chilling and further erodes many people’s already tenuous trust in this administration,” the senators continued.  

“We demand answers, accountability, and transparency to hold your agency accountable to the American people and ensure that FEMA employees are providing support to all victims. Given the shocking and reprehensible nature of these allegations, our constituents deserve immediate answers and maximum transparency. As Members of Congress, we are committed to holding those responsible accountable and making sure that rank weaponization against the American public is never tolerated,” the senators concluded.

Read the letter here. 

Background:

Ernst has been a strong advocate for ensuring Iowans receive the disaster resources they need. Following a number of natural disasters in Iowa this spring, Ernst visited the communities affected and met directly with local leaders and emergency response officials to support recovery efforts.

In July, Ernst urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve disaster assistance for Iowa farmers and cut red tape for Iowans impacted by the two destructive tornadoes and devastating floods.

In September, she slammed the Small Business Administration’s lack of coordination and competency while responding to natural disasters in Iowa and demanded answers on their failure to notify Congress of the need for supplemental disaster funding.

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