By Milo Neil | Inglewood Today
As Donald Trump prepares to take office, Californians are raising critical questions: Could the president-elect, a vocal critic of the state’s Democratic leadership, deny disaster aid to California in the wake of natural disasters? Past actions and public statements suggest the answer is far from clear.
A Pattern of Delays and Denials
Trump’s previous handling of disaster relief has raised red flags about his willingness to act in good faith. In 2017, his administration delayed the disbursement of $20 billion in recovery funds after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. A federal review found that HUD’s slow release of funds was influenced by political considerations, further underscoring the potential for bias in disaster aid decisions.
A History of Political Retaliation
In October 2024, POLITICO reported on Trump’s controversial denial of $37 million in wildfire aid to Washington state in 2020. The rejection stemmed from what the article described as a “bitter personal dispute” with Democratic Governor Jay Inslee. Trump delayed action on the request for months, leaving communities in limbo until President Biden reversed the decision upon taking office.
Trump’s approach to disaster relief has often been steeped in political calculations. In a recent campaign rally in California’s Riverside County, he threatened to withhold fire relief funds from the state unless Governor Gavin Newsom addressed water management issues, saying, “Gavin, if you don’t do it, we’re not giving any of that fire money that we send you all the time for all the fire, forest fires that you have.” The remark highlights Trump’s willingness to use federal funds as leverage against states whose leaders he opposes.
The Legal Framework for Disaster Relief
Federal disaster relief is governed by the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which outlines the process states must follow to request aid. Once a governor declares a state of emergency, the request moves to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA evaluates the severity of the disaster and the state’s financial capacity to respond before making a recommendation to the president.
Importantly, the president has significant discretion over whether to grant disaster relief. According to Matt Sedlar, a climate analyst, “The president can just say yes or no.” This discretion creates an opportunity for political considerations to influence decisions that should ideally be based solely on need.
Potential Impact on California
California, which has faced increasingly destructive wildfires, depends heavily on federal disaster assistance for recovery. For example, after the Camp Fire in 2018, the federal government provided over $375 million to rebuild Paradise, California—a town that was nearly wiped off the map by the fire. Without such funding, local governments and communities would struggle to rebuild critical infrastructure like roads, sewers, and water systems.
If Trump were to withhold disaster relief from California, the state would face significant financial challenges. FEMA typically covers 75% of public infrastructure repair costs, leaving states to cover the remaining 25%. Without federal aid, California would need to find billions of dollars to rebuild after major disasters.
Legal and Political Strategies
California may not be entirely powerless if disaster aid is denied. As Sedlar pointed out, the state could explore other avenues for funding, such as Small Business Administration loans or lawsuits against the federal government. For example, if a wildfire starts on federal land, California could potentially sue the federal government for mismanagement. However, such legal battles could take years to resolve and would offer no immediate relief.
In the political arena, California leaders could appeal directly to Congress or leverage public opinion to pressure the administration. Historically, Trump has reversed decisions when faced with significant backlash, as he did in 2018 after aides highlighted the number of Trump voters in areas affected by the Camp Fire.
Looking Forward
While Trump’s past behavior and recent statements suggest he might withhold disaster relief from California, the legal framework and political landscape present obstacles to such actions. On a more human note, Trump will be inaugurated to the presidency January 20, 2025, and its incredibly unfortunate, but apropos, that Trump is behaving as though he will be a president for the states where he is politically aligned and the other states will be treated like the bald headed step children. Nevertheless, the state must prepare for the possibility and explore alternative funding options to protect its residents from the devastating impacts of future disasters.
