Milton’s other aftermath

An internal investigation published last week by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shows Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workers violated Floridians’ privacy while politically discriminating against them during the response to Hurricane Milton.

A political firestorm developed last year after an initial discovery that workers passed over several Lake Placid homes because signs supporting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign appeared in their yards. But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the investigation showed similar issues in disaster response dating back to 2021, the start of President Joe Biden’s administration.

“The federal government was withholding aid against Americans in crisis based on their political beliefs — this should horrify every American, regardless of political persuasion,” Noem said.

“For years, FEMA employees under the Biden administration intentionally delayed much-needed aid to Americans suffering from natural disasters on purely political grounds. They deliberately avoided houses displaying support for President Trump and the Second Amendment, illegally collected and stored information about survivors’ political beliefs, and failed to report their malicious behavior. We will not let this stand.”

Rep. Vern Buchanan, GOP co-Chair of the Florida congressional delegation, had called for the investigation in a letter last November. He applauded the agency for publicizing the findings.

“Under the Biden administration, FEMA officials engaged in blatant political discrimination by refusing aid to Floridians displaying Trump signs following last year’s back-to-back hurricanes,” the Longboat Key Republican said.

“This was a disgraceful abuse of power that put lives and property at risk for purely partisan reasons. I was proud to lead a letter last year demanding answers, and now that the truth is coming to light, those responsible must be held fully accountable. If criminal conduct occurred, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No American should be denied emergency assistance because of their political beliefs.”

Notably, former FEMA Administrator DeAnne Criswell, who led the agency under Biden, denied in congressional testimony last year that the discrimination was common practice. She said after reports first emerged of the Lake Placid homes being passed over, the field director in charge of response was fired.

“More than 22,000 FEMA employees every day adhere to FEMA’s core values and are dedicated to helping people before, during and after disasters, often sacrificing time with their own families to help disaster survivors,” Criswell posted on social media at the time.

“Recently, a FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team not to go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump. This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. This was reprehensible.”

Criswell hasn’t addressed the latest report, but Michael Cohen, a FEMA Chief of Staff during Criswell’s tenure, told The Hill that the report could spotlight only a handful of instances in which FEMA workers took notes on individuals’ political affiliations. And he said those notes were just part of a file with no indication they impacted the aid ultimately administered.

“This is notes about why they maybe didn’t go to a house,” he said. “There’s no findings about discriminating against people because of their political beliefs or any other protected class that I can see. DHS said it is referring concerns about Privacy Act violations to the Justice Department, though it did not make clear whether any individuals could face charges.”

Stopping shutdowns?

Sen. Ashley Moody questions why Congress’ failure to reach a budget agreement means the federal government must stop serving the people.

The Plant City Republican this week announced she will co-sponsor the Eliminate Shutdowns Act (S 2806), which would prevent a shutdown such as the one now in its 28th day, even if Congress hasn’t enacted a new budget before the end of the fiscal year.

Instead, the bill, as written, would trigger an automatic 14-day continuing resolution to keep the government funded using the previous year’s appropriations. Every two weeks, a similar extension would automatically go into effect, but Congress still could not pass its own funding legislation.

“The Democrats have been holding the American people hostage for more than 20 days now — and each day the Schumer Shutdown continues is another day that our troops, law enforcement officers, federal and essential workers go without pay,” Moody said.

“As one of the country’s newest Senators, I’m working hard to bring sanity to D.C., and that’s why I’m cosponsoring the Eliminate Shutdowns Act so our government can remain open and working for the American people.”

Independent oversight?

Is the ethics watchdog at the Federal Reserve just carrying water for the agency’s leadership? It’s a concern for Sen. Rick Scott, and one he shares with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Scott sent a letter with Sens. Cynthia Lummis, a Mississippi Republican, and Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, to Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, demanding to know why current Fed Inspector General Michael Horowitz has lobbied Senators against legislation that could make his post more independent.

“It is concerning and perplexing that some of your employees of the Federal Reserve would devote significant time and energy advocating against legislation that would implement healthy oversight and ensure the Fed and its employees are held accountable,” the letter reads.

“It is also concerning that the Fed’s inspector general, who is meant to serve as an ethics watchdog at the agency on behalf of the American people, would advocate against this legislation, which aims to fix the existing reporting structure that currently incentivizes him to overlook violations, do the bidding of you and the Federal Reserve Board, and shield bad actors.”

Scott has been a fierce critic of Powell, who was appointed in Trump’s first term but has increasingly been at odds with the administration over interest rates and agency spending.

The Naples Republican filed a bill with Lummis and Warren earlier this year that would make the Inspector General a Senate-confirmed position rather than an appointment by the Federal Reserve Chair.

Requiring reconstruction

Every woman faced with breast cancer should have access to the same health care options, regardless of what insurance carrier they use, according to Rep. Kat Cammack.

The Gainesville Republican filed the Advancing Women’s Health Coverage Act, a bipartisan bill she introduced with Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat. That legislation would require insurance companies to cover reconstructive options for patients, including implant-based procedures and advanced microsurgical and combination techniques. That coverage would be guaranteed under the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System.

“Women should be fighting cancer rather than insurance companies. Every woman battling breast cancer deserves access to the best care modern medicine can offer — not limits based on outdated insurance codes & bureaucratic red tape,” Cammack said.

“For too long, survivors have been denied coverage for proven reconstructive options that restore confidence, dignity, and quality of life. This bill puts patients back in charge, ensuring their recovery, health and confidence aren’t dictated by a system stuck in the 1990s.”

Dingell said it was wrong for some carriers to treat reconstruction as a cosmetic luxury.

“Reconstructive surgery is not just about appearance — it’s a part of the healing process that helps patients recover both physically and emotionally,” she said.

Plastic surgery physicians across the country hailed the legislation.

“The updates are not just about procedures, but about patient autonomy and choice,” said Dr. Babak Mehrara, president of The Plastic Surgery Foundation. “Modernization ensures breast cancer patients are fully supported with care from diagnosis through recovery.”

FEMA still helping

Massive flooding in Central Florida, where some parts of Eustis saw 19 inches of rainfall on Sunday evening, has local lawmakers working with FEMA even amid a shutdown.

Rep. Randy Fine, an Atlantic Coast Republican, spoke to the press at the scene of some of the washed-out roads.

“I heard about the issues here in my district. I wanted to come over and see them, and I wanted to tell everyone here that we will be committed to do what we can, at the federal level, to help with the infrastructure issues,” Fine said.

“And I’m grateful not only to my staff that is here, but to the FEMA staff that we have coordinated with, all of whom are working unpaid thanks to the Democrats’ decision to shut down the government.”

FEMA disaster relief has been deemed an essential service and remains open. Workers are required to come in and will eventually receive back pay, but checks are not being issued now. Services for individuals impacted by disasters will continue to be paid from the Disaster Relief Fund as long as funds are available.

NASA on track

Rep. Mike Haridopolos said a federal shutdown hasn’t impacted the timeline for major NASA missions to date. But he worries that the longer workers go without pay, the more the U.S. could be slowed down in the modern space race.

The Indian Harbour Beach Republican told Florida Politics he feels confident efforts like the current moon mission remain on track.

“The good news is that Artemis II is still on track and people are still working on these programs,” Haridopolos said. “Unfortunately, I think some of the other issues that might come up along the line could be delayed.”

Haridopolos said NASA, like many federal agencies, has seen many workers decline to come into work without a paycheck. Oct. 24 marked the first day workers missed out on an entire pay period.

“The practical matter is, when you shut down the government, you’re having a lot of people stay home,” Haridopolos said. “Now, fortunately, these people, in their case, will be paid despite not working. But you’re still running into just a challenge. Every time you have to stop and start, we all know in any business, you’re going to run into problems.”

He expressed hope that most NASA workers will stay on the job even as Congress remains at a stalemate on a budget resolution.

“If we’re going to win this space race, we need all hands on deck, especially since they’re going to be paid one way or another, even if it’s a delayed payment,” he said.

Haridopolos noted that private contractors are involved in the Artemis II mission, which helps preserve the Kennedy Space Center’s timetable. NASA has said workers on Artemis missions working with SpaceX and Blue Origin, private space companies, must continue work through the shutdown, as reported by CNBC.

Ruthless efficiency

Rep Byron Donalds is calling for property tax reform and improvements to Florida’s infrastructure as he also weighed in on the federal government shutdown at Monday’s Future of Florida Forum.

Donalds, widely considered a leading candidate for Governor in 2026, addressed the crowd for about 20 minutes on a variety of subjects at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting in Orlando.

Donalds said he favors repealing homestead property taxes, though he warned that critical public services, like police and fire, or road work, must be funded.

“Local governments, state government, we have a responsibility to be ruthlessly efficient with the people’s money,” he said.

One important issue facing the Sunshine State is improving infrastructure — including wastewater treatment, Donalds said.

“This is a tough subject. Nobody wants to be engaged in it except, frankly, people who sit on City Councils and County Commissions,” Donalds said. “I believe that you have to have a sound plan, a strategy, of how you address these things going into the future. We cannot put our heads in the sand and ignore it because that crappy issue will back up, and I’m not joking.”

Meanwhile, Donalds predicted the federal shutdown would last one or two more weeks because of growing pressure points, including federal workers — like Transportation Security Administration agents — not getting paid and Americans’ emergency food benefits running out.

“How long is the shutdown going to last?” Donalds said at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa during the conference. “The truth of the matter is the person who truly knows is the Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.”

Wage gap awareness

Wage gaps exist between men and women and between the disabled and able-bodied. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick hopes to draw attention to those inequities with a resolution marking Oct. 23 as Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day.

“Our workforce deserves equity and respect. The fact that disabled women veterans earned, on average, just 62 cents for every dollar paid to non-disabled male veterans in 2022 is unacceptable,” the Miramar Democrat said.

“Equal pay is not only a matter of fairness, but also a matter of dignity and justice. Disabled women contribute to every sector of our economy, and their work must be valued and compensated accordingly.”

It’s also a matter of law. Cherfilus-McCormick noted that the Equal Pay Act has outlawed pay discrimination since 1963, yet the wage gap persists. Most disabled women with four years of college education make just $55,000, less than most non-disabled men who never finished a degree, the resolution states.

The Florida lawmaker filed the resolution with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat, and with women’s groups and disabled advocates, who are backing the proposal.

“Unequal pay and inaccessible workplaces aren’t just unfair, they’re disabling,” said Kenrya Rankin, managing director at Disability Culture Lab.

“Black disabled women are in a particularly difficult place right now, as we face record job losses and juggle caregiving for our children, our parents, and ourselves. And capitalism — plus the current administration — demand that we do it all without accommodations. We need to invest in Black women, but this administration would rather implement policies that further disable us.”

China negotiation

China entered a trade agreement during Trump’s first term to purchase at least $200 million in U.S. goods in 2020 and 2021. But to date, imports have never come close.

As Trump travels in Asia, the new administration wants answers as to why. House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast said he does as well.

“China reneged on their 2020 agreement with President Trump to buy $200 billion worth of American goods,” the Stuart Republican said. “They had the audacity to cite the COVID-19 pandemic — which they literally started — as their reason. This is unacceptable, and we thank President Trump for holding them to the deal they made.”

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last week announced an investigation into whether China held up its end of any agreement and what consequences should follow.

“The initiation of this investigation underscores the Trump administration’s resolve to hold China to its Phase One Agreement commitments, protect American farmers, ranchers, workers, and innovators, and establish a more reciprocal trade relationship with China for the benefit of the American people,” Greer said.

Mar-a-Lago skies

Safety concerns arise when a President lives in the neighborhood, and the Secret Service has just implemented new year-round flight restrictions, including a 1-mile-radius no-fly zone around Palm Beach.

It’s something city officials want reconsidered, while Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat, seeks more details on the reasoning.

“I hope we can find solutions that are compatible with the safety of the President, neighborhood quality of life, and traveler efficiency,” Frankel said. “That’s why I’ve requested a detailed briefing from the Secret Service to better understand these new restrictions and explore practical alternatives.”

The new rules also require pilots to move in a single direction, rather than allowing planes to scatter along multiple paths, but that has raised noise concerns for those in the flight path.

The Secret Service has agreed to discuss regulations with Frankel, but only after the federal shutdown ends.

Scorn for socialism

As members of the Democratic Socialists of America, most notably New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, have enjoyed political success, Florida Republicans are decrying socialism as a “failed ideology.”

Scott and Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican, filed resolutions in both chambers of Congress that assert socialist policies lead to collective tyranny. The bill name-checks such infamous historical dictators as Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Russia’s Josef Stalin, as well as sitting world leaders like Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

“History is clear: from Stalin’s gulags and Cambodia’s killing fields to Castro’s firing squads in Havana, socialism has always ended in misery, suffering, and death. Entire nations have been destroyed and millions of lives shattered, including many in my own community in Miami who fled its brutality,” Salazar said.

“I am proud to introduce this concurrent resolution denouncing the horrors of socialism in the House, alongside Sen. Rick Scott, to ensure Congress speaks with one voice in condemning socialism in all its forms, wherever it rears its ugly head. America must always stand as the light of liberty against the darkness of socialism and its false promises of equality.”

Scott said the threat isn’t just historical.

“Just look at Cuba and Venezuela, or talk to any of the thousands of families in my state of Florida who fled those regimes after evil dictators stripped them of every opportunity,” he said.

“Time and time again, socialism has led to the same, inevitable outcomes: misery, poverty, and oppression. It’s despicable to see far-left radicals villainizing capitalism — a system that has helped billions of Americans achieve their dreams — and try to tear down our country and rebuild it in their woke, radical image through socialist policies. The United States was built on individual freedoms and opportunities, and the right of every individual to pursue the American Dream despite coming from nothing, just like I did.”

On this day

Oct. 28, 1962 — “Russia orders withdrawal of missiles from Cuba” via History.com — Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s orders ended the Cuban missile crisis. U.S. spy planes flying over Cuba had photographed construction work on missile facilities. President John Kennedy announced a naval blockade to prevent the arrival of missiles and demanded that the Soviets dismantle and remove weapons already in Cuba. The situation was extremely tense and could have resulted in war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Still, at the last minute, Khrushchev turned the Soviet ships and agreed to dismantle and remove the weapons already there. Kennedy and his advisers had stared down the Soviets. The apparent capitulation was instrumental in Khrushchev’s being deposed in 1964.

Oct. 28, 1998 — “Bill Clinton signs digital copyright law” via The New York Times — President Clinton signed a key component of his agenda for fostering electronic commerce, but one that also changes traditional premises of copyright law. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act makes it illegal to circumvent digital rights management systems or encryption technologies that protect intellectual property on the internet. It also outlaws the manufacture and sale of devices used to crack those wrappers. Hailed as a compromise in one of the first complex battles to transfer rules from the physical world into cyberspace, the law’s enactment marks a victory for the entertainment and software industries, which want to begin selling more goods online.

Happy birthday

Best wishes to Donalds, who turns 47 today, Oct. 28.

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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol, with contributions by Gabrielle Russon.