According to the DHS Privacy Office report, FEMA employees under the Biden administration recorded citizens’ political leanings in internal databases between 2021 and 2024 and, in some cases, used that information to postpone or deny aid.
Investigators concluded the actions violated the Privacy Act of 1974 and multiple DHS data-handling regulations meant to protect Americans’ First Amendment rights.
The information collected included obviously protected information about individuals’ freedom of expression, such as campaign signs showing support for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump or political positions, such as supporting gun ownership, or indicating that an individual expressed support or disagreed with a political leader,” the report stated.
