Federal Disaster Aid Request Rejected
On Sunday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis sharply criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of engaging in political maneuvers. This came after the Trump administration refused to grant disaster declarations for wildfires and flooding that affected Colorado earlier this year.
Polis' office reported receiving two rejection letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency late Saturday. These denials followed requests for major disaster declarations related to wildfires and mudslides in August, as well as what Polis termed historic flooding in southwestern Colorado during October.
"Coloradans impacted by the Elk and Lee fires and the flooding in Southwestern Colorado deserve better than the political games President Trump is playing," Polis stated in an official release.
White House Response
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the administration's position, stating that Trump approaches each federal disaster assistance request with careful consideration. She emphasized the goal of ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by states to supplement, not replace, their own disaster response and recovery efforts.
Jackson asserted there is no political motivation behind Trump's decisions regarding disaster aid.
President Trump has previously suggested phasing out FEMA, advocating for states to assume greater responsibility in disaster management. While states typically lead initial disaster responses, federal assistance becomes crucial when local resources are overwhelmed.
