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| Vermont received FEMA disaster aid after the catastrophic July, 2023 floods, shown here. But that was during the Biden administration. If another flood happened now, Trump very likely wouldn't approve disaster aid because too many Vermonters voted against him. It's Trump disgusting retribution against perceived enemies |
As Politico reported on July 29, Trump earlier this summer overruled his own agencies when he denied disaster aid for four Democratic-led states.
The latest issue involves New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, who were seeking federal disaster funds to help recover from a massive, record-breaking blizzard this past February.
FEMA field offices verified that the damage qualified for disaster assistance, but Trump overruled them. Presidents have sole authority to grant disaster relief to states, but historically, until Trump, presidents never overruled the field offices.
Presidents Since George W. Bush and before Trump approved all 69 state requests for snow assistance, except for one, Politico reports. The one denial was because FEMA funds had been mishandled.
This is a continuation of Trump ignoring disasters in Democratic-led states. Politico says Trump has rejected disaster aid for Democratic-run states at the highest rate in the entire 47-year history of FEMA. Meanwhile, Trump has approved nearly 90 percent of disaster aid requests from states run by Republicans.
Politico continues: "He approve just 23 percent of disaster funding requests from states with a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators since returning to office 14 months ago. For states with a Republican governor and two Republican senators, it's the opposite - Trump has approved 89 percent of their requests."
In all previous administrations, there has been no discernible bias in presidential disaster declarations. Democratic and Republican-led states got equal treatment. Until Trump.
Interestingly, during the first Trump administration, his pattern of approving disaster assistance almost exactly matched previous administrations. It was only during the current term that the disparity became apparent.
Since taking office for his second term, the Associated Press says Trump has approved 65 requests for major disaster declarations and denied more than two dozen others.
On top of all that, Trump is taking longer to declare disasters than any other presidential administration.
Trump's spokesperson Abigail Jackson, wrote, "There is no politicization to the President's decisions on disaster relief."
Riiiiiight.
Jackson also explains the slow approval on Trump conducting a more thorough review than any administration before him. Yes, of course, sure. Can I do a rolling eye emoji here?
Democrats in Congress have asked the Government Accountability office to look into the criteria of how FEMA determines whether to recommend disaster declarations from Trump. But even if there's some sort of smoking gun at FEMA, that won't stop Trump from politicizing all current and future disasters.
Two of the most recent disasters to hit the United States were the severe floods in Indiana and the extreme wildfires in and around Spokane, Washington. Indiana is a red state. Washington is a blue state.
Two different states, two different disasters. But both have caused a lot of heartache and loss for residents of those states
Will Trump help Indiana and snub Washington? My guess is yes.
It should be obvious to everyone except Trump and his minions that economically strapped individual, towns and states can't handle mega disasters on their own. But Trump only cares about himself.
We knew that before he became president. But too many Americans didn't care, and here we are.
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