Trump Denies FEMA Aid to Democratic States More Often

President Donald Trump has demonstrated a pattern of approving disaster aid requests from states that supported him politically at a higher rate than those that did not. Since taking office, Trump has approved approximately 65 major disaster declarations while denying over two dozen requests from states, tribes, or territories seeking federal financial assistance for events like hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, floods, and fires. An analysis by the Associated Press of data dating back to 1989, when federal parameters for disaster determinations were established, indicates that Trump has taken longer on average to approve disaster requests than any preceding president. Furthermore, no other president has exhibited such a significant disparity in denials between states that aligned with his political party and those that did not.

Trump's administration is reportedly considering a reorganization of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is responsible for administering disaster aid. Major disaster declarations are designated for events that exceed the financial and resource capabilities of state and local governments. The AP's analysis of FEMA data reveals that Trump has approved 80% of disaster requests submitted by Republican governors, in contrast to approximately 60% of requests from Democratic governors. This discrepancy is particularly pronounced when examining major disaster declarations based on presidential election outcomes.

Specifically, Trump has approved more than three-fourths of the requests originating from states that voted for him in the 2024 election. Conversely, less than half of the requests from states that did not vote for him have received approval. While federal criteria exist for disaster aid, the ultimate decision rests with the president's discretion. This pattern of differential treatment has been observed in numerous instances, including a recent batch of denials that affected four states.