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Summary: A DHS OIG audit confirmed that a FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crew intentionally skipped 11 homes during Hurricane Milton recovery efforts due to the presence of political signage supporting Donald Trump, violating FEMA policy and the Hatch Act.
This OIG report (OIG-26-21) details an investigation into FEMA's Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) program following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The audit found that a specific DSA crew leader instructed their team to avoid homes displaying political signage for then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump, resulting in 11 homes being skipped. This action violated FEMA policy and the Hatch Act of 1939, eroding public trust in the agency's impartiality. The OIG identified systemic weaknesses, including a lack of mandatory ethics and Hatch Act training for deployed personnel, insufficient documentation requirements for skipping homes, and a lack of quality control reviews. Furthermore, the audit was hindered by FEMA's failure to provide timely access to the Field Assessment and Collection Tools (FACT) system, which subsequently became inaccessible due to a lapsed support contract. FEMA has concurred with all four OIG recommendations to improve training, oversight, and documentation.
Document outline
1. Executive Summary 2. Background: DSA Program and Hurricane Response 3. Key Finding: FEMA DSA Crew Skipped 11 Homes for Unallowable Reasons 4. FEMA Lost Access to Canvassing Data Due to Contract Lapse 5. Root Causes: Weaknesses in Training, Documentation, and Oversight 6. Recommendations for Improvement 7. FEMA Management Response