By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency – whose mission is to help people before, during and after disasters – has fired an employee who advised its survivor support team in Florida not to go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump, the agency’s administrator said.

“This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values ​​and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said on social media platform X.

“This employee has been terminated and we have referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel,” Criswell added over the weekend.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said his state’s emergency management division would launch an investigation into the matter.

Comments from the FEMA administrator and DeSantis did not mention the exact time frame or location of the incident.

FEMA workers helped Florida residents recover from last month’s devastating Hurricane Milton. The already cash-strapped agency has also recently been hit by a disinformation campaign.

FEMA has a workforce of more than 22,000 people that can swell to more than 50,000 active members during major disasters. It has 10 regional offices and the ability to coordinate resources across the federal government.

“This was reprehensible. I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA, and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct,” he added Criswell. her comments about the fired employee.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)