Trump Denies $250 Million Blizzard Aid to 4 Blue States, Overruling FEMA
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 29
Trump Denies $250 Million Blizzard Aid to 4 Blue States, Overruling FEMA
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 29
Summary
$250 million in federal aid for a February blizzard was denied to New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York even after FEMA and NOAA found the states met disaster thresholds.
FEMA records reviewed by POLITICO show Rhode Island alone logged $19 million in storm costs—about nine times the aid threshold—after 37.9 inches of snow fell in 24 hours.
The White House now argues snow removal should not qualify for federal disaster help, with a FEMA spokesperson comparing it to paying for routine services such as garbage removal.
That stance breaks with past practice, including Trump’s first term and Biden’s 2022 approval of North Dakota blizzard aid, and sharpens scrutiny as hurricane and wildfire season nears before the November midterms.