Embattled FEMA Director Deanne Criswell left the agency on Monday just as the second administration of President Donald Trump began.
Criswell, who has faced criticism over her handling of the agency’s response to recent hurricanes, left her position as administrator at 12:01 p.m. and was replaced by Tony Robinson, who will be the acting FEMA director until Trump chooses a replacement. During her time in office, Criswell oversaw the government’s response to multiple devastating hurricanes, the Maui fires, and most recently, the deadly Los Angeles County fires.
“It has been an honor serving as [FEMA] Administrator for nearly four years. The FEMA family takes immense pride in our mission of helping people before, during and after disasters. I know the agency will continue to serve the nation as we support this peaceful transition of power,” Criswell posted on X, though her account has now been taken over by Robinson.
Criswell came under fire in November after The Daily Wire reported that a FEMA supervisor in Florida ordered relief workers responding to Hurricane Milton to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” The guidance led to some 20 homes in Lake Placid being skipped because they had a Trump flag or sign.
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Criswell spent over five hours on November 19 being questioned by House lawmakers about the guidance. She maintained that the guidance was an isolated incident.
“I do not believe that this employee’s actions are indicative of any widespread cultural problems at FEMA,” she said at the time. “FEMA however has taken appropriate action to ensure this matter is fully investigated and I am committed to ensuring that nothing like this ever happens again.”
There are still multiple investigations ongoing, including from the inspector general, into the guidance and the state of Florida has sued FEMA over the instructions
Trump has been a critic of FEMA’s response to both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, stating during his inaugural address that the agency had treated North Carolina poorly.
Last week, North Carolina’s Republican senators had to intervene after they said that dozens of hurricane victims were kicked out of the hotels they were staying in on Tuesday as their FEMA-sponsored vouchers expired. One whistleblower told Republicans on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that FEMA had skipped entire neighborhoods in North Carolina if there were three or more Trump or other conservative signs in yards.
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[[{“value”:”
Embattled FEMA Director Deanne Criswell left the agency on Monday just as the second administration of President Donald Trump began.
Criswell, who has faced criticism over her handling of the agency’s response to recent hurricanes, left her position as administrator at 12:01 p.m. and was replaced by Tony Robinson, who will be the acting FEMA director until Trump chooses a replacement. During her time in office, Criswell oversaw the government’s response to multiple devastating hurricanes, the Maui fires, and most recently, the deadly Los Angeles County fires.
“It has been an honor serving as [FEMA] Administrator for nearly four years. The FEMA family takes immense pride in our mission of helping people before, during and after disasters. I know the agency will continue to serve the nation as we support this peaceful transition of power,” Criswell posted on X, though her account has now been taken over by Robinson.
Criswell came under fire in November after The Daily Wire reported that a FEMA supervisor in Florida ordered relief workers responding to Hurricane Milton to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” The guidance led to some 20 homes in Lake Placid being skipped because they had a Trump flag or sign.
CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT
Criswell spent over five hours on November 19 being questioned by House lawmakers about the guidance. She maintained that the guidance was an isolated incident.
“I do not believe that this employee’s actions are indicative of any widespread cultural problems at FEMA,” she said at the time. “FEMA however has taken appropriate action to ensure this matter is fully investigated and I am committed to ensuring that nothing like this ever happens again.”
There are still multiple investigations ongoing, including from the inspector general, into the guidance and the state of Florida has sued FEMA over the instructions
Trump has been a critic of FEMA’s response to both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, stating during his inaugural address that the agency had treated North Carolina poorly.
Last week, North Carolina’s Republican senators had to intervene after they said that dozens of hurricane victims were kicked out of the hotels they were staying in on Tuesday as their FEMA-sponsored vouchers expired. One whistleblower told Republicans on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that FEMA had skipped entire neighborhoods in North Carolina if there were three or more Trump or other conservative signs in yards.
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