Late last week, the Trump administration officially denied Washington state’s request for federal disaster aid to help recover from last year’s devastating “bomb cyclone.”
The powerful storm killed at least two people and caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
In a letter sent Friday, the administration responded to a $34 million aid request initially filed by former Gov. Jay Inslee with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before leaving office. The letter, addressed to current Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson, stated:
“This is in response to your January 14, 2025, request for a major disaster declaration for the State of Washington due to severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides between November 17 and November 23, 2024. You requested Public Assistance for six counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
Based on our review of all information available, we’ve determined that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not warranted. Therefore, your request for a major disaster declaration is denied.”
The letter did not provide a specific explanation for why the request was rejected. However, local Seattle news outlets have reported that the cyclone caused extensive damage to highways, utility systems, and power grids, and thousands of residents have filed damage claims.
Governor Ferguson criticized the decision and announced plans to appeal:
“There are very clear criteria to qualify for these emergency relief funds, and Washington met all of them. This is yet another troubling example of the federal government withholding critical support.
Communities across Washington have been waiting months for help to recover from last winter’s storms. This delay is unacceptable, and we will appeal.”
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has been accused of selectively denying disaster assistance to Democrat-led states. The pattern dates back to 2018, when his administration withheld critical hurricane relief from Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
More recently, the administration informed North Carolina that it would no longer fully reimburse the state for recovery costs related to Hurricane Helene.
This decision came despite Trump’s earlier campaign promises to provide strong federal support. Democratic Governor Josh Stein denounced the move, and the state is now also appealing.
According to local outlet NC Newsline, the funding cuts will significantly impact North Carolina’s ability to rebuild, with years of recovery efforts still ahead.
The Trump administration had also previously withheld approval for Asheville’s recovery budget until officials removed references to programs supporting minority- and women-owned businesses.
These recent denials fit into a broader trend. Trump has previously threatened to cut wildfire recovery funding for California unless the state enacted stricter voting laws.
He has even floated the idea of eliminating FEMA — a move that would leave states without vital disaster relief in times of crisis.
For now, the administration appears to be using FEMA as a political tool, repeatedly denying or restricting aid to states governed by Democrats, even as their residents struggle to recover from natural disasters.