Trump must stop politicizing disaster relief

Wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters don’t care who you voted for or what political party you support. Neither should our approach to disaster relief or wildfire prevention.

President Trump appears to see it differently.

Last summer, one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history tore through Rio Blanco County. President Trump should know this county well because they overwhelmingly voted for him. Now, there are a lot less campaign signs than there were in 2024.

When Colorado filed a disaster declaration to help these people rebuild and prevent future tragedies, the Trump administration denied their request.

These are people who did everything right their whole lives, only to lose it all in a disaster. They paid their taxes, believing that if the worst ever happened, their government would be there for them.

President Trump broke that promise.

Disasters should never be political. This administration has politicized them.

If you’re a Republican living in a blue state, you’d better hope disaster never strikes. Otherwise, relief could come late – or never.

President Trump has approved 80 percent of disaster requests from Republican governors, and closer to 60 percent from Democratic governors. That is not normal. Under prior administrations, the approval rate was roughly the same, no matter how a state voted.

That’s the way it should be. Politics should never decide whether you can rebuild your house after a fire.

But, you don’t need to take our word for it. The Trump admin admitted it themselves. Trump admin officials acknowledged that they terminated federal funding for blue states “solely” because of how those states voted.

The Aspen Acres fire has already destroyed over 300 houses. Colorado is slowly getting that fire under control thanks to the brave firefighters who are working day and night. It is the 7th-largest wildfire in state history, and I’m grateful that FEMA has authorized Fire Management Assistance Grants for that fire – as well as the Gold Mountain Fire and Willow Fire.

The Aspen Acres Fire will likely require a Major Disaster Declaration. If it does, we will push this administration with everything we have to make sure Colorado gets the relief it needs.

We’re also fighting to take politics out of disaster relief. Congress should pass our bipartisan Disaster Declaration Transparency Act. It gives Congress the power to review disaster relief denials driven by politics.

In the meantime, it’s important that every single Coloradan do their part to help reduce wildfire risks: follow local restrictions, practice campfire safety, and create defensible space around your property.

On a recent trip to Beulah, I saw firsthand the devastation that wildfires leave behind. Block after block, all that remained was heavy smoke and heartbreak.

Bedrooms where parents tucked their children in at night had been reduced to ashes. Dining rooms where families once gathered were barely recognizable.

Drought and wildfires aren’t going away. Unless we act, they’ll only become more frequent, more destructive, and more expensive. That’s why we need to work together on common-sense solutions that make every community safer.

That’s what we’re fighting for here in Washington.