An extensive internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has revealed that FEMA officials under the Biden Administration systematically and intentionally refused or delayed critical disaster aid to survivors based on their political views, citing signs and flags supporting President Trump and the Second Amendment.
The disturbing findings, spanning from Hurricane Ida in 2021 to Hurricane Milton in 2024, expose what DHS Secretary Kristi Noem called “textbook political discrimination against Americans in crisis.”
The investigation confirms that FEMA employees not only bypassed houses displaying support for Donald Trump but also illegally collected and stored information about disaster survivors’ political beliefs, a direct and egregious violation of the Privacy Act of 1974.
Widespread Abuse and Privacy Violations
The internal DHS Privacy Office investigation, initiated after a whistleblower came forward following Hurricane Milton in 2024, found that these acts of discrimination were not an “isolated incident” as former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell had previously testified to Congress. Instead, the abuses were widespread and systemic, occurring during multiple disasters across the nation. Florida and North Carolina were particularly hard hit.
“The federal government was withholding aid against Americans in crisis based on their political beliefs—this should horrify every American, regardless of political persuasion,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. She asserted that FEMA employees “intentionally delayed much-needed aid” on purely political grounds, deliberately avoiding homes based on their occupants’ protected expression.
The DHS Privacy Office report, Investigation 2025-01, found multiple systemic privacy violations, including:
- Violating the Privacy Act of 1974 by collecting and maintaining information about individuals’ political beliefs, which is explicitly prohibited by law.
- Failing to maintain data integrity and fairness by using this irrelevant political information to influence disaster relief decisions, compromising impartiality.
- A lack of transparency and accountability, as FEMA failed to issue required public notice for the collection of this private information and did not report the activities as privacy incidents.
Referred to Justice for Prosecution
In response to the confirmed systematic political bias and illegal data collection, Secretary Noem announced a set of corrective and punitive actions to restore integrity to FEMA’s disaster relief operations.
The most immediate action is the referral of the case to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for further investigation and potential prosecution, signaling the severity of the alleged crimes. The case has also been referred to the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General.
Corrective Actions Implemented
To prevent future discrimination and illegal activities, Secretary Noem has implemented the following institutional changes:
- Canceled the door-to-door survey practice that was used to facilitate discrimination.
- Instructed the DHS Privacy Office to issue clear recommendations to FEMA to address the violations and prevent future ones.
- Required FEMA to adhere to stricter data collection practices, strengthen guidance and training, and clearly define legitimate safety concerns to ensure staff make fair and lawful decisions.
- Mandated that FEMA implement rigorous oversight and auditing mechanisms to ensure compliance and impartiality.
The investigation uncovered that despite a crew lead being fired after the Hurricane Milton incident, internal records showed the prohibited collection of information occurred during multiple disasters by both FEMA employees and contractors, with a greater frequency among employees.
The report highlighted that the lack of clear guidance on what constitutes “hostile” behavior led canvassers to equate protected political expression, like campaign signs, with legitimate safety concerns, resulting in the unfair delay of aid.
The DHS Privacy Office’s findings underscore a pattern of “weaponizing federal power against Americans” and abusing public trust, demanding immediate and fundamental changes to how FEMA operates during moments of national crisis.
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