Americans may soon get a clearer picture of the deep dysfunction within FEMA and the extent of its failures, particularly regarding its treatment of Trump supporters during natural disasters.
A recent report from The Washington Post revealed that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to FEMA’s disaster data, which contains information on tens of thousands of victims.
This development comes after President Donald Trump suggested that his administration might consider shutting down FEMA and shifting disaster relief responsibilities to individual states.
Less than two weeks after Trump’s remarks, DOGE representatives arrived at FEMA to review its grant programs, which are used to help communities prepare for and recover from disasters.
According to several current and former FEMA officials, the presence of DOGE has created uncertainty, with concerns growing that Trump could follow through on his pledge to dismantle the agency, similar to his administration’s actions with the U.S. Agency for International Development.
According to sources, a small DOGE team without security clearance has been given access to FEMA’s network, which contains sensitive data.
Notably, Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old former college student who now works for Musk and is known online by the moniker “Big Balls,” was reportedly issued a FEMA badge on February 5.
This raises questions about what FEMA’s data might reveal. Could it include evidence of political bias in disaster relief efforts?
Last year, a whistleblower came forward with text messages alleging that FEMA had instructed relief workers to skip over homes in Florida displaying Trump signs following Hurricane Milton.
The official who carried out the order, Marn’i Washington, was later fired, with FEMA dismissing the incident as an isolated case.
However, Washington claimed she was being scapegoated, insisting that FEMA’s leadership had issued directives to deny aid to Trump supporters in multiple states, including the Carolinas.
More recently, the Biden administration ended a temporary housing program for 2,000 Hurricane Helene survivors, forcing them into a severe snowstorm and freezing temperatures.
If DOGE investigators uncover widespread misconduct, including FEMA’s alleged targeting of Trump supporters or evidence of massive bureaucratic waste, the implications could be severe. It may lead to a complete overhaul—or even the abolition—of the agency.