The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) controversy surrounding apparent political discrimination during Hurricanes Helene and Milton did not end with the Congressional Oversight hearing last week, for Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) has written a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell with follow-up questions unanswered during the hearing.
Rep. Steube had previously written a November 15th letter that went unanswered, and Criswell said during last week's hearing that she would need to follow up on two questions unanswered during the hearing.
"It is now November 26th, and I have yet to receive a response. This is unacceptable. Considering the short period of time remaining for the Biden Administration, it is imperative that you promptly respond to requests for information from Congress," Rep. Steube wrote.
As a result, the Florida Congressman had three questions he wanted Criswell to answer by December 3rd, including the date of the supposed "avoidance policy" that an anonymous FEMA employee told the New York Post was an "open secret." Additionally, he wanted the names of the 13 FEMA workers who received the directive to skip houses with signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump from Marn'i Washington and if they have already made sworn statements to investigators.
"FEMA is intentionally dragging their feet on providing answers to Congress in the remaining weeks of the Biden-Harris administration. Floridians are outraged at the discriminatory practices FEMA implemented against Trump supporters. The discrimination is now seemingly widespread, contrary to FEMA's claims. I am committed to continuing full force oversight of FEMA as long as it takes to provide transparency and answers to my district," Steube said in a statement.
The letter comes after Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) called for the Department of Homeland Security to be reformed by removing FEMA and the Secret Service from its control and having the two agencies report to the White House. Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) supported this move. Donalds derided FEMA, saying it "has largely become an accounting agency, & they are not cutting it."
