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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, on Sunday accused President Donald Trump of playing “political games” after the federal government rejected disaster declaration requests following this year’s wildfires and floods in the Centennial State.
The governor received two rejection letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) late Saturday.
The letters followed requests by Polis for a major disaster declaration following August’s wildfires and mudslides and what Polis called “historic flooding” across southwestern Colorado in October.
Polis denounced the administration’s denial and said the state would appeal the decision.
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Colorado Governor Jared Polis accused President Donald Trump of playing “political games” after the federal government rejected requests to declare the disaster. (AP)
“Coloradans impacted by the Elk and Lee fires and flooding in southwest Colorado deserve better than the political games President Trump is playing,” the governor said in a statement.
The two US Senators from Colorado, Democrats Michael Bennett and John Hickenlooper, also criticized the US administration for this denial.
“FEMA’s denial of Colorado’s request for federal disaster assistance is unacceptable,” Bennett wrote on X. “Western Colorado communities need help recovering from this year’s historic floods and wildfires, and federal assistance should be available to every state and county that needs it,” he added.
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Colorado’s Democratic governor received two rejection letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He added: “I will take all available steps to appeal this decision.”
“This is not a game. This is people’s lives,” Hickenlooper wrote.
“Colorados are trying to rebuild their lives after fires and floods destroyed homes and communities across our state,” he continued. “Trump’s decision to deny our disaster requests, thereby withholding resources while our communities continue to recover, is unacceptable.”
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson claimed there was “no politicization” in the administration’s decisions on disaster relief.
The White House claimed there was “no politicization” in the administration’s decisions on disaster relief. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Trump responds to every request for federal disaster assistance “with great care and attention, ensuring that states use America’s tax dollars appropriately and effectively to supplement — not substitute for — their commitment to disaster response and recovery,” Jackson said.
Trump has suggested the possibility of “phasing out” FEMA, saying he wants states to take more responsibility. States already lead government response after disasters, but officials may request federal assistance when needs exceed what they can manage on their own.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.