Trump approved Ohio disaster aid ahead of rally

Por Thomas Frank — POLITICO – TOP Stories

President Donald Trump approved millions of dollars in disaster aid for Ohio last week ahead of his campaign rally there, as 15 other disaster requests waited, including five submitted before Ohio’s.

Trump authorized the aid the day before he campaigned for the Republican senator in a tight election battle and told a cheering Vandalia, Ohio, crowd that he approved the money at Republican Ohio Sen. Jon Husted‘s request.

“Yesterday, I also signed a special disaster relief declaration at the request of Jon [Husted] and Bernie [Moreno] and everybody,” Trump said at the Oct. 3 rally, referring to Ohio’s other Republican senator.

He also criticized Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor facing Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. “I’m not gonna help her probably,” Trump said. “She hates me, I guess.”

Trump used disaster aid as a campaign issue again Wednesday when he vowed on social media to approve disaster aid for Wisconsin as part of his endorsement of Rep. Tom Tiffany, the state’s Republican candidate for governor.

The state’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who requested the disaster aid and said he had heard nothing from Trump, called the announcement “Complete and Total Bullshit.”

“Clearly, President Trump and Congressman Tiffany are continuing to play politics with emergency aid that’s meant to help communities recover,” Evers, who is not seeking a third term, wrote on social media.

Tiffany said in a statement to POLITICO that getting disaster aid after tornadoes hit his district in late July “has been a top priority” and that he has been in “regular contact with the administration.”

“I appreciate the administration responding to Wisconsin’s needs,” Tiffany added.

The back-to-back events rekindled Democratic criticism that Trump is using disaster aid to reward allies and punish enemies, ending decades of nonpartisanship in federal help after storms, floods, wildfires and other damaging events.

In July, Trump denied disaster aid for four Democratic-led states, overriding two agencies that found each state qualified for millions in help, POLITICO reported.

In the first 14 months of his current term, Trump approved 23% of disaster requests from states with a Democratic governor and two Democratic U.S. senators — compared to 89% from Republican-led states, POLITICO found.

“It is completely grotesque that Trump continues to play politics with disaster declarations and still hasn’t approved disaster requests as far back as early August,” House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) told POLITICO in a statement. “It is also inexcusable for Republicans in control of Congress to not do a single thing about it.”

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told POLITICO, “There is no politicization to the President’s decisions on disaster relief.”

Trump handles disaster requests “with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states,” Bis said.

Trump has dangled money in other ways while campaigning, issuing an executive order aimed at cutting fuel prices, promising money to Medicare’s 20 million participants and $5,000 checks to every American adult.

Presidents have exclusive authority to approve Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster aid, which can help both communities and households.

A Husted spokesperson said the first-term senator sought immediate disaster relief after tornadoes caused extensive damage across Ohio in August.

“Senator Husted would advocate for assistance for Ohioans regardless of who is in the White House, because he’s committed to delivering the best outcomes for Ohioans, especially when they are in need,” the spokesperson said.

Husted is in a tight race with Democrat Sherrod Brown, who was a Democratic senator from Ohio before losing reelection in 2024 to Republican Bernie Moreno. Husted filled the Senate seat vacated when JD Vance became vice president.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) asked Trump on Sept. 2 for disaster aid to help households in 23 counties, mostly in southern Ohio.

On Oct. 2, Trump approved household aid in seven counties including the county surrounding Cincinnati, making no decision on 16 counties. Partial approvals are common.

Trump has made no official decision on five disaster requests he received between Aug. 6 and Aug. 26 from both Democratic and Republican governors. The requests came from Indiana, Minnesota, Utah, Wisconsin and the U.S. territory of Guam.

Trump also has made no decision on a Sept. 9 request for expedited disaster aid from Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) after a damaging hurricane. Presidents typically approve expedited requests within days.

The other pending disaster requests are from Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, Washington, the Pueblo of Zuni, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Hawaii, which is seeking aid for a second recent hurricane.

Trump typically approves disaster requests in batches every two or three months, which has created uncertainty for state officials accustomed to getting a decision within weeks of a request.

Fonte: POLITICO – TOP Stories