ICYMI: The New York Times: It’s Harder Than Ever to Get Federal Disaster Aid. Even in Red States.

Washington, DC –  The New York Times reported that Trump has taken longer to approve or deny federal disaster aid than previous administrations, especially for states that did not vote for him. Under Trump, it has been three times harder for Democratic-led states to get approval for federal disaster aid. By delaying or denying disaster relief, Trump is pushing the cost of recovery onto states and local communities. Since his first week in office, Trump has gutted FEMA and dismantled disaster mitigation and response — threatening critical aid and leaving communities more vulnerable to extreme weather events. This could get even worse after Trump’s FEMA Review Council releases its recommendations to further overhaul the agency later this week. 

The New York Times: It’s Harder Than Ever to Get Federal Disaster Aid. Even in Red States.

Federal disaster declarations, which unlock millions of dollars in aid for communities hit by catastrophes, have been delayed significantly in President Trump’s second term, and money is flowing especially slowly to states that Mr. Trump lost in the 2024 election, according to a New York Times analysis.

The review of Federal Emergency Management Agency data found that the Trump administration is moving more slowly than its predecessors to approve or deny requests for emergency aid after natural disasters, sometimes leaving communities stretched to pay big expenses until they hear whether the federal government will help. 

REMINDER: Trump has consistently delayed and denied disaster aid. 

• Under Trump, pending FEMA disaster applications have sat longer on average than at any other point in the previous 37 years.
• Trump has consistently politicized disaster aid. As of March 2026, it was three times harder for Democratic-led states to get Trump’s approval for federal disaster aid. Trump approved just 23% of disaster aid requests from Democratic-led states, compared to 89% for Republican-led states. 
• In the first year of his second term, Trump denied and delayed disaster aid for 18 states: Oregon, Maryland, Kansas, Missouri, West Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Washington, Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Illinois, Colorado, Vermont, Alaska, and Wisconsin.
• Trump’s previous DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem, consistently mismanaged FEMA and fumbled the agency’s response to major disasters. As of January 2026, Noem’s requirement for her personal approval on all FEMA expenses exceeding $100,000 was creating a $17 billion bottleneck, causing months-long delays in delivering federal disaster funds to states. 
• The Trump administration’s mismanagement caused aid delays in communities across the country – from Missouri, Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, Arkansas, to even North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene recovery continues.