Trump Administration Approves More Federal Disaster Aid for Republican-Led States

An analysis by The New York Times and the Associated Press (AP) reveals a partisan disparity in the approval of federal disaster declarations under the Trump administration. States governed by Republicans have a significantly higher chance of receiving federal disaster assistance compared to those led by Democrats.

The administration has approved approximately 80% of disaster requests from Republican governors, while only about 60% of requests from Democratic governors have been approved. This trend is further emphasized when examining states based on their 2024 presidential election vote; over three-fourths of requests from states that voted for Trump were approved, compared to less than half from states that did not.

Beyond the partisan divide, the Trump administration has also exhibited longer approval times for disaster declarations than any president since 1989, according to the AP's data. The average approval time has stretched to about a month and a half after a request is submitted, potentially delaying critical aid for affected communities and increasing recovery costs.

These findings emerge as the administration contemplates reforms for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the entity responsible for administering disaster relief. While White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that decisions are not politicized, critics, including Democratic lawmakers, argue that disaster aid should be merit-based and not subject to political considerations.

Cameron Hamilton, the nominee for FEMA director, has pledged during Senate hearings to expedite disaster declaration decisions and ensure the agency operates objectively and fairly in reviewing requests.