FEMA: Worker fired after directing workers to avoid helping hurricane survivors who supported Trump

[Omaha Steve]

https://apnews.com/article/fema-worker-fired-hurricane-trump-b8b889764260090ad81b51f72cb1485e

Updated 3:48 PM CST, November 9, 2024

A Federal Emergency Management Agency worker has been fired after she directed workers helping hurricane survivors not to go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump, the agency’s leader said in a statement Saturday.

“This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “This was reprehensible.”

The agency did not identify the employee, nor did it say where it happened.

But Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling it “targeted discrimination” of Florida residents who support Trump, said it happened in Florida.

FULL story at link above.

[GreenWave]

1. Were it the other way around as when T didn't want to help California

it would barely scratch the news.

[underpants]

2. That was stupid and I'm sure the right wing will play this up.

[Norbert]

3. If true, they couldn't be fired soon enough.

[Ontheboundry]

4. I live in the Helen area that got hit

I got zero patience for this nonsense.

[Meadowoak]

6. Sounds like projection to me. Like something they would do to us.

I doubt it's even true. We just don't act like that.

[kelly1mm]

29. So your theory is that President Biden's FEMA administrator is lying or a secret MAGA?

You did read this part of the OP. correct?

"“This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “This was reprehensible.”"

[oasis]

5. Through all the wreckage they look for yard signs?

I call bullshit on this FEMA “news” story.

[Kaleva]

7. So you are saying FEMA is lying?

[oasis]

8. What's the name of the culprit?

Hmmmmm?

[Kaleva]

10. So the Biden Administration is lying?

FEMA is part of the Biden Administration.

[oasis]

11. No name, nothing in writing but if it makes

sense to you, go with it.

[Kaleva]

14. You didn't answer my question

Is the Biden Administration lying?

[oasis]

16. Read post 15. It answers the question that

I put to you.
Have a nice day.

[Kaleva]

20. So the Biden Administration wasn't lying but you suspected they were

I trusted the Biden Administration to be truthful even if I didn't know the name of the person .

I think people are sometimes too eager to believe something that reinforces their world view.

Nothing personal. I'm just engaging in a debate with you.

Anyways, have a great day!

[vanessa_ca]

15. Marn'i Washington, 38,

Amid the outrage at the nation's emergency department for the apparent discrimination, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced Saturday that Washington has been fired from her position.

'This is a clear violation of FEMA's core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,' she wrote of Washington's actions, which she called 'reprehensible.'


Marn'i Washington, 38, has been fired from her role as a supervisor at FEMA



'I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct,' Criswell posted on X, announcing Washington's termination from the agency.

'I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again,' she added.

According to the Daily Wire, the employees who followed Washington's orders were part of a Department of Homeland Security team that was made up of volunteers from other agencies.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14063933/FEMA-Marni-Washington-avoid-Florida-homes-Trump-signs-fired.html

In the chat, Washington said that it would be “best practice” to “avoid homes advertising Trump,” according to photos of the messages viewed by The Daily Wire. No explanation was given for this guidance, which included other recommendations like telling the workers to “practice de-escalation and preventative measures,” and to “avoid high salt diets and coffee.”

Photos from the system used by federal relief workers to track what homes they visit showed that relief workers followed Washington’s guidance. Several addresses were marked “not able to access property” with listed explanations such as: “Trump sign no entry per leadership,” “Per leadership no stop Trump flag,” “Trump sign,” and “Trump sign, no contact per leadership.”


https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs?topStoryPosition=1

[oasis]

17. Thanks for posting. It's the clarification I was

seeking.

[vanessa_ca]

19. You're welcome

I just read that a few minutes before seeing your question.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

21. While in hindsight it's a poor decision...

this decision was made while FEMA workers were under direct threat.

[LymphocyteLover]

25. I have to think it was, especially since they mention being safe and practicing de-escalation

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

27. Although I still think dismissal is correct in this instance.

[LymphocyteLover]

24. terrible --but I wonder if this was a safety measure after the right was going around saying FEMA was the enemy

it would fit in context with the other messages

[LymphocyteLover]

9. I doubt this is the full story and this is just playing to rightwing ears

[oasis]

13. "Directing workers". By word of mouth?

I don’t believe the “unidentified person” would be stupid enough leave a paper trail.

[LymphocyteLover]

23. apparently they did! Or an electronic trail

All I can figure since they mention de-escalation also, that this was to avoid hostile groups and if this was after Trump and other wingnuts started saying FEMA was the enemy
https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs

[SickOfTheOnePct]

12. The name is

Marn’i Washington, and if you look online, you can find the screenshot of the instructions that were issued to the team.

Team members also entered notes in the tracking system about avoiding houses with Trump signs “per leadership”

[oasis]

18. Thanks.

[LymphocyteLover]

22. Oh brother. I found a piece on it. I wonder if this was supposed to be more of a safety measure than trying to

deny aid
https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs

[Theproletariat]

28. Doesn't matter if it was safety reasons or not.

It is a terrible look and only feeds the narrative the rethugs were pushing in NC/TN.

[usedtobedemgurl]

26. No matter which side does it...

It is wrong.