Americans hit by hurricanes, floods and wildfires are waiting longer than ever for federal disaster aid under President Donald Trump, with an Associated Press analysis finding that states that did not vote for him are also more likely to see their requests denied.
Since returning to office last year, Trump has approved about 65 major disaster declarations but rejected more than two dozen requests from states, tribes and territories seeking federal aid after storms, tornadoes, floods and fires.
The AP's review of FEMA data dating back to 1989 found that Trump has taken longer, on average, to approve disaster requests than any president in that period. It also found a wider gap than under any previous administration between approval rates for states that backed Trump and those that did not.
Trump has approved about 80% of requests from Republican governors, compared with roughly 60% from Democratic governors. Looking at the 2024 election map, he approved more than three-quarters of requests from states he carried but fewer than half from states he lost.
The White House rejected suggestions that politics played a role. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson said there was "no politicization" in Trump's disaster decisions and said the administration conducts more thorough reviews to ensure taxpayer money is spent appropriately.
Still, the delays can leave families waiting for months for help with temporary housing, home repairs, and other recovery costs, while local governments face uncertainty about reimbursement for debris removal and rebuilding.
One recent rejection denied aid requests from Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island following a February snowstorm. Rhode Island's Democratic congressional delegation called it "part of a pattern of extreme partisanship," arguing disaster relief should be based on need rather than politics.
The AP found Trump now takes an average of about six weeks to approve disaster requests after they reach the White House. Because states often spend weeks assessing damage before applying, survivors frequently wait more than two months for federal assistance to be approved.
By comparison, Trump averaged about three weeks during his first term, similar to President Joe Biden. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush all averaged less than two weeks.
The findings come as the Trump administration weighs major changes to FEMA that would shift more disaster costs to states and reduce the federal government's role in responding to major disasters.
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