FEMA relief workers deliberately bypassed homes displaying Trump flags in the weeks following Hurricane Milton, violating federal law and agency policy, according to a report released Monday by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General.
The watchdog report confirmed allegations made by a whistleblower after the 2024 presidential election, finding that disaster response crews listed political signage as a reason for not visiting properties. The audit of the agency's response to the October 2024 hurricane confirmed 11 instances where properties were skipped for improper reasons, including one official entry stating, 'did not visit due to Trump flag.'
An insider told the Daily Mail that these 11 confirmed instances likely represent a fraction of the total number of homes missed, as most records lacked detailed explanations for skipped locations. The workers are alleged to have violated the Hatch Act, which restricts political activities of federal employees and can lead to termination, fines, or forfeiture of pay.
"This is unacceptable for any public servant," a DHS official stated. "Federal disaster responses are supposed to serve every American equally, no matter who they voted for or what sign is in their yard. These actions crossed a line that should never be tolerated, especially during a disaster when people are at their most vulnerable and counting on their government to show up and help when they need it most."
The issue first gained public attention after the 2024 election when internal messages surfaced, indicating a FEMA supervisor had instructed teams to avoid homes advertising support for then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump. This guidance reportedly led to at least 20 homes being bypassed in the Lake Placid, Florida area.
FEMA Supervisor Marn'i Washington, who allegedly relayed these instructions, was later fired along with three crew members. Republicans in Congress and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis raised accusations of deliberate denial of disaster aid to Trump supporters. Upon taking office, then-President Trump signed an executive order establishing a council to review concerns about political bias within FEMA.
In March 2025, FEMA's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) released its own review, stating it found no evidence of a systemic problem or direction from agency leadership, according to Politico. However, the Inspector General's report criticized officials for inadequate training and supervision of disaster responders, as well as insufficient documentation of interactions with survivors.
The IG report also noted that DHS hindered the investigation by restricting access to records and information. Furthermore, leadership was faulted for allowing a contract for FEMA’s Field Assessment and Collection Tools to lapse in September 2025 without acting on a funding request. "We requested access to the data in March 2025, but FEMA delays prevented us from obtaining the data prior to the contractor abruptly shutting down the system," the IG stated.
The report found that most interviewed crew leaders and members demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding the Hatch Act, and that FEMA's Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) training did not cover ethics rules or Hatch Act provisions. FEMA DSA policies also did not require crews to detail reasons for skipping locations.
During the response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, FEMA crews canvassed approximately 744,000 properties. The Inspector General's audit was initiated to assess FEMA's adherence to its policies and procedures for the DSA program following these storms.
FEMA's OPR became aware of the violations on October 28, 2024, nine days after initial entries were made, through a whistleblower complaint. The agency reviewed daily summary reports and confirmed the absence of information regarding skipped homes due to political signage.
A FEMA spokesperson at the time stated that while the incident was believed to be isolated, measures were taken to remove the involved employee and that an investigation was underway to prevent recurrence. The spokesperson added that the employee who issued the guidance lacked authority and was not directed to avoid specific homes. FEMA committed to reaching out to individuals who may have been affected and expressed horror at the situation, stating extreme actions were taken to correct it.