The Trump administration approved major disaster declaration requests for at least seven states this week, according to information released Saturday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The declarations allow affected communities to access federal support. Approximately 15 additional requests from states and tribes remain pending, along with three appeals of previous denials.
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Washington are now eligible for federal support to address recovery needs, including repairs to public infrastructure and aid for survivors.
The announcement follows weeks into Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s tenure, signaling a potential shift from the leadership of his predecessor, Kristi Noem, who was fired by President Donald Trump in March. Mullin stated Tuesday that he planned to brief Trump on the pending requests, with an aim to expedite disaster assistance ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.
However, FEMA’s operations could be challenged by the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, now in its eighth week. While disaster response and recovery can continue during a shutdown due to the Disaster Relief Fund not lapsing, the fund is dwindling, and replenishment requires a resolution to the appropriations impasse. The DHS appropriations bill would provide over $26 billion to the fund.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated Saturday that President Trump approaches these requests “with great care and consideration,” emphasizing the importance of states supplementing—not replacing—their own disaster response and recovery efforts. The administration aims for state and local governments to “invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes.”
While Secretary Mullin assured senators during his confirmation hearing that he believed in FEMA’s mission, the agency’s future remains uncertain as President Trump has expressed a desire to shift more disaster responsibility to the states. A FEMA Review Council appointed by Trump last year has yet to release its recommendations, which are expected to include sweeping changes to federal disaster support.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced Wednesday that his state had received a disaster declaration for devastating March flooding. Trump also amended previous disaster declarations for Tennessee and Mississippi, extending individual assistance to additional counties following a severe winter storm in January.
The approval process for disaster declarations has lengthened during Trump’s second term, with approvals taking more than a month on average as of September. Arizona has been waiting nearly three months for a response to its appeal following storms and flooding in September. Some Democrat-led states have expressed frustration with denials despite demonstrating need, citing a FEMA assessment showing over $33 million in damages in Maryland following May 2025 flooding.
while FEMA assesses damage and provides recommendations, the decision to issue a disaster declaration rests with the President. Notably, none of the approvals this week included hazard mitigation funding, a component that previously aided communities in rebuilding with greater resilience, and which Trump has not approved for over a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What states received major disaster declarations this week?
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Washington were granted major disaster declarations.
Is the DHS shutdown impacting FEMA’s ability to respond to disasters?
While disaster response and recovery can continue during the shutdown because the Disaster Relief Fund does not lapse, the fund is running low as the funding impasse continues.
Has President Trump approved hazard mitigation funding recently?
No, President Trump has not approved a hazard mitigation request for more than a year.
As communities grapple with the aftermath of recent disasters and prepare for future events, how will the balance between federal and state responsibility shape disaster preparedness and recovery efforts?
