Full Breakdown
FEMA Skipped Pro-Trump Homes During Hurricane Milton Response, Triggering Investigation and Policy Overhaul
8/26/2026, 9:38:26 PM
Core Event: Skipping of 11 Homes with Political Signage
During the federal response to Hurricane Milton in 2024, a FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crew deliberately avoided 11 Florida residences that displayed signs supporting Donald Trump’s campaign. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General concluded the crew’s actions violated agency policy and the Hatch Act, which bars partisan political activity by federal employees.
Background & Context
In late September and early October 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Florida within two weeks. FEMA crews conduct door-to-door outreach to offer aid, food, and shelter resources. Agency policy permits crews to skip homes only for safety hazards or private-property signs; political signage is not a permissible reason.
Key Figures & Groups
- Marn’i Washington – FEMA crew leader who directed the avoidance of the pro-Trump homes.
- Christopher P. Logan – FEMA associate administrator of policy, responding to the Inspector General’s findings.
- Deanne Criswell – FEMA administrator in 2024, testified before Congress about the incident.
- Ron DeSantis – Governor of Florida, blamed the Biden administration for the conduct.
- Jamie Raskin – House Oversight Committee Democrat, criticized the directive as a legal error.
- Hampton Dellinger – Special Counsel who filed a Hatch Act complaint against Washington.
Timeline
- Late Sep–early Oct 2024 – Hurricanes hit Florida; FEMA crews begin assistance.
- 2024 (post-storms) – Crews surveyed 744,288 homes; 555,374 locations were not contacted for safety or private-property reasons; 11 homes were skipped because of Trump signs.
- Nov 2024 – Oversight Committee hearings; Criswell described the incident as isolated.
- Feb 2025 – Office of Special Counsel filed a Hatch Act complaint against Washington.
- 2025 – Survey123 contract expired, shutting down the data system.
- Aug 2026 – Inspector General released the report detailing violations and training gaps.
Data & Statistics
- 744,288 homes surveyed.
- 555,374 locations not contacted for legitimate reasons.
- 11 homes skipped due to political signage.
Official Statements & Responses
- Christopher P. Logan said FEMA has shifted to a fixed-site model and instituted new training to prevent bias.
- Deanne Criswell called Washington’s actions “unacceptable” but limited the incident to a single employee.
- Jamie Raskin called the directive a “bad mistake, legally and constitutionally.”
- Hampton Dellinger said Washington’s conduct “clearly violates the Hatch Act.”
Why It Matters / Impact
The finding that political bias eroded public trust led FEMA to adopt mandatory ethics training, revise crew-selection procedures, and replace door-to-door outreach with centralized assistance sites to restore confidence in its impartiality.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Inspector General noted the Survey123 database became inaccessible after the contract lapsed, preventing a full assessment of whether similar skips occurred in other disasters.
What’s Next
FEMA has instituted mandatory Hatch Act ethics training for all disaster-response personnel, permanently moved to a fixed-site assistance model, and will develop standardized documentation for any instance a crew does not make contact with a surveyed location.
