Trump approves federal disaster aid for storms and flooding in 6 states
Share and Follow


President Donald Trump has approved federal disaster aid for six states and tribes following storms and floods that occurred this spring and summer.

The disaster declarations, announced Thursday, will allow federal funding to flow to Kansas, North Carolina, North Dakota and Wisconsin, and for tribes in Montana and South Dakota. In each case except Wisconsin, it took Trump more than a month to approve the aid requests from local officials, continuing a trend of longer waits for disaster relief noted by a recent Associated Press analysis.

Trump has now approved more than 30 major natural disaster declarations since taking office in January. Before the latest batch, his approvals had averaged a 34-day wait from the time the relief was requested. For his most recent declarations, that wait ranged from just 15 days following an aid request for Wisconsin flooding in August to 56 days following a tribal request for Montana flooding that occurred in May.

The AP’s analysis showed that delays in approving federal disaster aid have grown over time, regardless of the party in power. On average, it took less than two weeks for requests for a presidential disaster declaration to be granted in the 1990s and early 2000s. That rose to about three weeks during the past decade under presidents from both major parties. During Trump’s first term in office, it took him an average of 24 days to approve requests.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the AP that Trump is providing “a more thorough review of disaster declaration requests than any Administration has before him” to make sure that federal tax dollars are spent wisely.

But delays mean individuals must wait to receive federal aid for daily living expenses, temporary lodging and home repairs. Delays in disaster declarations also can hamper recovery efforts by local officials uncertain whether they will receive federal reimbursement for cleaning up debris and rebuilding infrastructure.

Trump’s latest declarations approved public assistance for local governments and nonprofits in all cases except Wisconsin, where assistance for individuals was approved. But that doesn’t preclude the federal government from later also approving public assistance for Wisconsin.

Preliminary estimates from Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ administration said more than 1,500 residential structures were destroyed or suffered major damage in August flooding at a cost of more than $33 million. There was also more than $43 million in public sector damage over six counties, according to the Evers administration.

Evers requested aid for residents in six counties, but Trump approved it only for three.

“I will continue to urge the Trump Administration to approve the remainder of my request, and I will keep fighting to make sure Wisconsin receives every resource that is needed and available,” Evers said in a statement in which he thanked Democratic officeholders for their efforts, but not Trump or any Republicans.

Trump had announced several of the disaster declarations — including Wisconsin’s — on his social media site while noting his victories in those states and highlighting their Republican officials. He received thanks from Democratic North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and Republican officials elsewhere.

Trump’s approval of six major disaster declarations in one day would have been unusual for some presidents but not for him. Trump approved seven disaster requests on July 22 and nine on May 21.

But Trump has not approved requests for hazard mitigation assistance — a once-typical add-on that helps recipients build back with resilience — since February.

___

Associated Press writers Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Scott Bauer, Jack Dura and Gary D. Robertson contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Savage whisphers inside CBS as Bari Weiss begins cull of woke staff

Inside CBS: Bari Weiss Initiates Staff Changes Amid ‘Woke’ Debate

“Barbarians at the Gate,” the renowned 1989 book, chronicled the dramatic hostile…
Kid Rock sparks fury by saying he wants to dress up as a 'r*****'

Kid Rock Faces Backlash Over Controversial Costume Comment

Kid Rock is under fire from Special Olympics leaders following his use…
Internet divided as Dictionary.com unveils its 2025 word of the year

Dictionary.com Sparks Debate with Controversial 2025 Word of the Year Announcement

Dictionary.com recently announced its Word of the Year for 2025, sparking mixed…
Oklahoma teacher served laced drink dies 2 years later

Oklahoma Teacher’s Tragic Story: Laced Drink Leads to Untimely Death Two Years Later

An Oklahoma schoolteacher tragically passed away after what her family describes as…
Chicago school welcomes back first grader who underwent heart transplant

Heartwarming Return: Chicago First Grader Triumphs After Life-Saving Heart Transplant

In an uplifting scene at Peck Elementary School in Chicago’s South Side,…
Chicago immigration operations: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to speak in Gary, Indiana as Pritzker calls for pause in operations

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Addresses Chicago Immigration Concerns Amid Pritzker’s Call for Operational Pause

CHICAGO (WLS) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is set to visit…
KC Neufeld, right, shops with her family in Englewood, Colo., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.

SNAP Cuts Shift Halloween Tradition: Ramen Replaces Candy in Trick-or-Treat Bags

When KC Neufeld shared a post on her Denver neighborhood’s Facebook page…
JetBlue flight makes emergency landing at Tampa Airport after sudden 'drop in altitude' injures passengers

JetBlue Flight Executes Emergency Landing at Tampa Airport Following Sudden Altitude Drop, Resulting in Passenger Injuries

A JetBlue flight en route from Cancun to New Jersey had to…