July 16, 2026

Trump's Disaster Aid Approval Delays Favor Republican States

Trump has taken an average of six weeks to approve disaster aid requests, significantly longer than previous presidents.
He has approved about 80% of requests from Republican governors, compared to roughly 60% from Democratic governors, with a notable gap in approval rates based on states' voting patterns.
Recent denials included aid for Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island after a snowstorm, raising concerns about partisanship in disaster relief.
The Trump administration is considering changes to FEMA that could shift more disaster costs to states, further complicating federal disaster response.