An investigation by the Associated Press has found that the Trump administration is taking significantly longer to approve federal disaster aid requests and is denying them more frequently for states that did not support the president in the 2024 election. Since taking office last year, the administration has approved approximately 65 requests for major disaster declarations while denying more than two dozen others. This analysis, which covers data dating back to 1989, suggests that the current administration has the longest average wait times for disaster approvals of any president in that period.
The data indicates a notable gap in how aid is distributed based on political alignment. According to the analysis, the administration has approved 80% of disaster requests from Republican governors, compared to only about 60% from Democratic governors. This disparity becomes even more pronounced when looking at the 2024 presidential election results, with more than three-fourths of requests from states that voted for President Trump being approved, while less than half of the requests from states that did not support him have received approval.
Major disaster declarations are designed to provide federal financial assistance to states, tribes, and territories when local resources are insufficient to handle the aftermath of events like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. While federal criteria exist for these declarations, the final decision rests with the president. Recently, the administration denied aid requests from Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island regarding a February snowstorm, sparking criticism from local officials who argue that disaster relief should be based on merit rather than political affiliation.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson has denied that politics play a role in these decisions, stating that the administration is committed to a thorough review process to ensure taxpayer funds are used wisely. As the administration considers a potential restructuring of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the delays and denials continue to affect communities waiting for federal support to recover from extreme weather events.