Americans are experiencing prolonged waits for federal disaster assistance under the Trump administration, with an Associated Press analysis of data dating back to 1989 indicating that President Donald Trump has taken longer on average to approve major disaster declarations than any preceding president. The analysis also found a significant partisan disparity in these decisions, with states supporting Trump more likely to receive aid.
Since taking office, Trump has approved approximately 65 requests for major disaster declarations and denied more than two dozen others from states, tribes, or territories. On average, it has taken about a month and a half for Trump to approve such requests after receiving them from a governor or chief executive. This is a notable increase from his first term, when approvals averaged about three weeks, a pace similar to that of President Joe Biden. Predecessors like Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush all had average approval times of less than two weeks.
Currently, 70% of Trump's disaster aid approvals have taken at least a month, compared to about one-quarter during his first term and the Biden administration, and fewer than 10% under previous presidents. Delays in presidential declarations can leave individuals, insurers, and local governments responsible for costs, while also hindering recovery efforts due to uncertainty over federal reimbursement for debris removal and infrastructure rebuilding.
Partisan Disparities in Aid Allocation
The AP's analysis of FEMA data revealed that Trump has approved about 80% of disaster requests from Republican governors, but only around 60% from Democratic governors. This discrepancy becomes more pronounced when considering states' voting patterns in presidential elections. Trump has approved more than three-quarters of requests from states that voted for him in the 2024 election, compared to less than half from states that did not. Federal criteria exist for disaster aid, but the final decision rests with the president.
Recent denials included requests from four Democratic states—Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island—for aid following a February snowstorm. Lawmakers from these states stated that the denial was part of a pattern of partisanship, aiming to shift economic burdens onto Democratic states, and that disaster aid should be merit-based, not politicized.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson asserted that the president's decisions on disaster relief are not politicized. She added that Trump conducts a more thorough review than previous administrations to ensure federal funds are used appropriately by states to supplement, not replace, their own disaster response obligations.
In contrast, Barack Obama's approval rate during his second term was 87% for Democratic governors and 79% for Republican governors, with identical rates for states that voted for or against him. Trump's first term saw him approving a larger share of requests from states that had opposed him than from those that supported him.
Proposed FEMA Overhaul
The longer approval timelines coincide with the Trump administration's consideration of changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers disaster aid. FEMA has had four different temporary leaders since Trump took office in January 2025, with Cameron Hamilton awaiting Senate confirmation as its permanent director. Hamilton has pledged to expedite decisions and reimbursements and ensure FEMA's objectivity.
A council appointed by Trump has recommended changes that could shift more responsibility to states, potentially reducing the number of major disaster declarations and the amount of federal money disbursed. Recommendations include revised qualification criteria for presidential declarations, such as minimum annual state expenditures, and a reduction in the federal government's share of aid from 75% to 50%, requiring states and local governments to cover more costs. These changes would require congressional approval. For individuals, the council proposed consolidating aid into a single payment for those whose homes are uninhabitable.