POLITICO reporting says President Trump overruled FEMA and NOAA recommendations to deny disaster aid to New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and that New York had also been verified as meeting federal criteria but was denied. The White House denied politicization, but critics point to a pattern of denials for Democratic-led states and approvals for Republican-led states — sometimes announced alongside campaign endorsements. Independent analyses from the AP and POLITICO say denials to Democratic-run states are historically disproportionate, and related actions (energy grant cancellations, funding freezes) have intensified concerns about partisan decision-making.
Report: Trump Overruled FEMA and NOAA to Deny Disaster Aid to Several Democratic-Led States
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk with Jason Hing, chief deputy of emergency services at the Los Angles Fire Department, left, and Capt. Jeff Brown, chief of Station 69, as they tour the Pacific Palisades neighborhood affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2025.
New reporting has intensified scrutiny over whether President Donald Trump politicized federal disaster relief after POLITICO published emails and more than 150 pages of documents submitted to FEMA by New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The documents and communications, officials say, show regional staff at FEMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) concluded the states met federal thresholds for aid — but the White House declined to authorize funding.
State officials also told reporters that New York’s request had been verified as meeting federal standards, yet its request was likewise denied. MS NOW has not independently verified POLITICO’s reporting.
What the Reporting Shows
According to POLITICO, agency reviewers in regional FEMA and NOAA offices recommended approval for the requests. Those recommendations were reportedly overruled at the White House level — an action several officials and observers described as lacking a modern precedent for disaster-declaration decisions.
The White House provided a short statement to POLITICO asserting, "There is no politicization to the president's decisions on disaster relief," and added that President Trump handles disaster requests "with great care." The statement did not explain why the blue-state requests were denied.
Patterns and Context
Critics point to a pattern of denials that disproportionately affect Democratic-led states. Earlier this month, the administration denied multiple requests from blue states across a three-day span while approving aid for six Republican-led states — in some cases announcing those approvals alongside public endorsements of Republican candidates in the affected states.
Independent analyses have reinforced concerns. The Associated Press published an analysis showing a disproportionate rate of denials for Democratic-led states. A POLITICO piece from March, citing administration statistics, reported that the president "has rejected disaster aid for Democratic-run states at the highest rate in the 47-year history of the Federal Emergency Management Agency."
Observers also point to related actions that critics say reflect partisan decision-making: a court filing in which the administration acknowledged canceling federal energy grants to blue states "based solely" on political criteria; reported attempts to freeze or limit social-services funding that primarily affected blue states; restrictions on health-care funds; and targeted fraud investigations in Democratic cities and states.
Jamelle Bouie, New York Times: "For Trump, there is no whole people of the United States. There are only his people and his states."
Why It Matters
Federal disaster declarations unlock federal funds and resources critical for recovery. If political calculations — rather than statutory criteria and agency findings — drive approval decisions, affected communities may face delayed recovery and unequal treatment under federal law. The reports have prompted calls for greater transparency and raised the prospect of congressional or legal scrutiny.
Note: This article updates earlier related coverage and reflects reporting attributed to POLITICO, the Associated Press and other outlets. MS NOW has not independently verified all underlying documents.
Help us improve.
