The Trump White House on Wednesday rejected a disaster relief request from Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) following devastating flooding in Western Maryland. 

Moore requested $15.8 million in disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for repairs due to heavy flooding in May.

Recommended Stories

• Obama to headline Democratic fundraiser amid Russiagate investigation
• Michael Whatley to run for North Carolina Senate seat after Lara Trump opts out: Report
• Pentagon defiant as government watchdog reportedly finds Hegseth’s Signal chat included info from classified document

“These communities demonstrated a clear need through FEMA’s own process, and Maryland will appeal the decision to seek all available resources to support the recovery efforts,” Moore said in a statement responding to the denial.

Moore said the state met the federal thresholds that typically trigger FEMA assistance.

“Historically, if the joint damage assessment process demonstrates eligible costs over and above the county and state indicator, disaster assistance has been awarded by the President,” Moore said. 

The letter that denied the state’s request said the agency “determined that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not warranted.” It did not explain the decision-making process for denying the aid.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in an email that “The President responds to each request for Federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement — not substitute, their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters. The Trump administration remains committed to empowering and working with State and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes, making response less urgent and recovery less prolonged.”

Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD) in a joint statement asked the White House to reconsider the denial.

“Marylanders in Allegany and Garrett Counties were hard-hit by May’s historically intense storms. Two months after flash flooding tore through these communities, they are still in need of support to repair public schools and libraries that were inundated, roads and bridges that were washed out, and homes and businesses that were left severely damaged,” the lawmakers wrote.

At the same time Maryland’s request was denied, President Donald Trump approved disaster relief in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and West Virginia. 

Trump, in years past, has had the perceived tendency to deny federal assistance to states led by those he perceives as his political enemies. 

FEMA’S FORK IN THE ROAD: ABOLITION OR SEAT AT THE CABINET

The two counties that Trump denied aid to in Maryland lean heavily Republican. Maryland provided $459,375 to them from the State Disaster Recovery Fund. 

“We will continue to stand with our fellow Marylanders in Western Maryland as they rebuild from the damage caused in May,” Moore said.