Reports of FEMA staging trucks across north central Michigan are stirring a lot of questions.
People noticed FEMA setting up at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base with 350 semi-trailers ready to roll, but local representatives were kept entirely out of the loop. Michigan Rep. Mike Hoadley, for instance, said he’s still waiting on FEMA to clarify the purpose of the operation. This cloak-and-dagger approach has left residents speculating about what FEMA is really up to, especially in light of the agency’s recent controversies. And let’s be honest, FEMA’s recent track record doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
This sent a shiver up my spine and I have questions.
Why is @fema in rural Oscoda, Michigan scouting out remote locations and moving equipment, including up to 350 semi truck trailers, to the local airport for “staging?”
According to a now former Oscoda Township board member,… pic.twitter.com/au85VuUtM5
— 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓿𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓓𝓲𝓿𝓪™ (@1776Diva) November 12, 2024
In Florida, FEMA is facing heat after an official instructed workers assessing Hurricane Milton damage to avoid homes with Trump signs, claiming it was “best practices.” According to The Daily Wire, employees bypassed at least 20 pro-Trump homes based on these “orders,” writing things like “Trump sign no entry per leadership” in official reports. This blatant targeting, especially in Highlands County, a pro-Trump area hit hard by Hurricane Milton, has left a sour taste among residents and raised questions about FEMA’s priorities.
FEMA’s leadership acted quickly to fire the official, with Deanne Criswell, FEMA’s administrator for employee misconduct, calling the behavior “reprehensible.” Yet, the agency insists this was an “isolated incident.” But let’s be real—this so-called “isolated” targeting, in a red stronghold no less, has understandably fueled concerns about partisan bias within a supposedly neutral agency. While FEMA assures us that they’ll reach out to affected residents and that their “core values” are about helping everyone equally, it’s a hard sell at this point.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has already launched a state investigation, calling the incident an example of “blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy.” He’s not alone; Rep. James Comer and the House Oversight Committee are also scrutinizing FEMA, questioning why the agency dragged its feet on firing the responsible official. And let’s not forget the stark contrast here—while the IRS tries to force whistleblowers like Gary Shapley out for exposing political influence in the Hunter Biden investigation, FEMA appears to protect bureaucrats playing partisan games with disaster relief.
WOW. The recently fired FEMA crew leader, Marn’i Washington, claims FEMA leadership is making her the scapegoat of a wider scandal of avoidance of helping certain victims based on political beliefs:
“FEMA preaches avoidance first, and then de-escalation. This is not isolated.… pic.twitter.com/RyV2wNJKlp
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 12, 2024
Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. took to social media, calling the incident “outrageous even for the Democrats in charge” and demanding a full investigation. Given FEMA’s recent controversies, including alleged mishandling of Hurricane Helene relief, the timing couldn’t be worse for an agency claiming it’s nonpartisan. And in Michigan, where FEMA’s recent activities at Wurtsmith Air Force Base remain a mystery, people have every reason to wonder whether they’re getting the full story.
With January fast approaching, new leadership in D.C. promises to bring accountability to these unelected bureaucrats. For now, though, it’s clear that FEMA has a long way to go in regaining public trust.
