Marn’i Washington, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, claims she was fired as a scapegoat to avoid ‘retaliation’ from President Trump after hurricane relief in Florida and the Carolinas received l order to leave the homes of some of his supporters due to “political reasons”. hostility.”

Mrs. Washington said the decision to terminate his employment was a political decision made by FEMA leaders to show Trump that they are “loyal to him because they fear retaliation.”

During an interview with journalist Roland Martin, the former staffer sought to defend the decision to tell others to avoid homes with Trump signs in the yard, adage this was a common practice when a “communal tendency” toward “political hostility” emerged.

“Once we start to see a trend, for example, if they have Trump campaign signs in front of their house, and that’s the feature that goes with it, we have to proceed with caution,” Ms. Washington said. .

She also said there had been “avoidance in the Carolinas,” following Hurricane Helene, in addition to Florida.

Mr. Martin sought to clarify his comment, asking what would happen if FEMA workers walked down a street where eight homes had Trump signs and the residents of three of those homes expressed “hostility.” Ms. Washington said she would tell her superiors that staff members were “experiencing hostile encounters” and then her team would move to another street.

“That’s the directive,” Ms. Washington added, saying her superiors told her that if her team felt “uncomfortable” or unsafe, they should simply move to other houses.

FEMA did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.

Ms. Washington was fired after the Daily Wire reported that more than 20 homes in Florida were ignored by FEMA workers investigating damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton because they carried Trump signs in the yard.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said The decision to vacate homes displaying Trump flags is a “blatant violation of FEMA’s core values ​​and principles of helping people regardless of political affiliation.”

Gov. DeSantis called the report evidence of “targeted discrimination” and said the Florida Division of Emergency Management would investigate the allegations.

According to a job on X by the GOP-led House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Ms. Criswell is scheduled to testify on allegations of FEMA favoritism next week. “We look forward to hearing what she has to say about these allegations and much more,” the committee said.