Denver — Governor of Colorado Jared Polis The accused president Donald Trump from playing “political games” on Sunday after the Trump administration rejected disaster declaration requests following wildfires and flooding in the state earlier this year.
Polis’ office said that late Saturday it received two rejection letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Messages follow requests to declare major disasters After forest fires Mudslides in August and what Polis described as “historic floods.” Across southwestern Colorado In October.
Polis and Colorado’s two Democratic senators, Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, criticized this denial. Polis said the state will appeal.
“Coloradans impacted by the Elk and Lee fires and flooding in southwest Colorado deserve better than the political games President Trump is playing,” he said in a statement.
White House press secretary Abigail Jackson said Trump responds to every request for federal disaster assistance “with great care and consideration, ensuring that U.S. tax dollars are used appropriately and effectively by states to supplement — not substitute for — their commitment to disaster response and recovery.”
Jackson said there was no “politicization” of Trump’s decisions On disaster assistance.
Trump has raised an idea “Phase out” of FEMASaying that he wants countries to bear more responsibility. States already take the lead in disaster situations, but federal aid comes into play when needs exceed what they can manage on their own.