Pontiac Times

At a recent committee hearing, Representative Lisa McClain from Michigan questioned FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell regarding allegations of partisan discrimination in disaster relief efforts. McClain, who serves on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, addressed concerns about reports that FEMA officials might have been directing aid away from hurricane victims based on political signage displayed on their properties.

McClain expressed her worries about unelected FEMA officials potentially withholding necessary disaster relief due to personal political biases. She emphasized the importance of serving all Americans impartially, especially those who have suffered significant losses.

During the hearing, McClain inquired about the status of an investigation involving Ms. Washington, a former FEMA employee allegedly involved in such discriminatory practices. Criswell responded that the matter is under investigation and confirmed that Ms. Washington was terminated three weeks after she became aware of the issue.

The exchange highlighted questions about FEMA's internal management structure and accountability processes. McClain pressed Criswell on whether there were layers of management that should have detected and addressed these issues before reaching her level.

Criswell affirmed that FEMA follows an accepted chain of command but did not provide specific details about actions taken within this structure regarding the incident.