Leaked FEMA Memo Shows Trump Plans to Push the Cost of Disaster Response Onto States
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Washington, DC – The Trump-Vance administration is once again pushing the cost of disaster recovery onto states. Trump’s FEMA head, Cameron Hamilton, wrote a memo to reduce state and local dependency on federal disaster aid. This is just the latest move from the Trump-Vance administration to gut federal disaster response and push the burden of recovery onto cash-strapped states.
At the same time, Trump is playing politics with disaster relief funds as he campaigns for the midterm elections. Trump has taken longer to approve or deny federal disaster aid than previous administrations, especially for states where a majority did not vote for him. Tomorrow, Trump is heading to North Carolina, where last month he joked about withholding Hurricane Helene aid if the state doesn’t elect a Republican Senator. Communities across the state are still waiting for relief, more than two years later. If Trump and Hamilton have their way, states like North Carolina will receive even less help from FEMA after disaster strikes.
Climate Power Senior Advisor Mia Logan issued the following statement: “This is just the latest step in Trump’s agenda to push the cost of disasters onto states who are already stretched thin. States rely on federal disaster aid to rebuild roads, bridges, and the communities where people live and work. From his first days in office to now, Trump’s message to Americans has been consistent: If extreme weather hits, you’re on your own, because help is probably not coming.”
Expert voices are available to comment on how Trump is gutting disaster response and pushing the burden onto states:
- Monica Medina, fmr. Principal Deputy Undersecretary of NOAA
- Jay Inslee, fmr. Governor of Washington State
**Please reach out to press@climatepower.us to schedule an interview**