The White House has been linking federal disaster aid to political considerations as Republicans seek to maintain control in upcoming midterm elections, with President Donald Trump explicitly suggesting that states supporting Democratic candidates could receive less federal assistance.
During a visit on Monday to communities in western North Carolina still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which struck two years ago, Vice President JD Vance announced more than $800 million in additional federal aid for the region. However, weeks earlier, Trump had indicated he might withhold disaster relief if Democrat Roy Cooper won North Carolina’s closely contested Senate race. Although Trump later described the remark as a joke, it underscored a pattern in which disaster assistance has been tied to electoral support for Republican candidates.
In a campaign speech in Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday, Trump referred to Hurricane Helene, calling it a “water-cane” due to its heavy rainfall. He criticized Cooper, the former governor, for inadequate disaster response, asserting that meaningful cleanup efforts only began after Trump assumed office. Cooper’s campaign dismissed the president’s comments, noting the governor had issued executive orders to expedite recovery efforts and condemned the politicization of aid, emphasizing that hurricane victims “aren’t pawns” in political debates.
Analysts and experts have raised concerns about the administration’s approach to disaster aid. Sarah Labowitz, a senior fellow specializing in disaster policy, warned that politicizing relief efforts undermines public trust and creates an unstable system where aid could be withheld for political reasons. Data suggests that states with a history of voting Democratic have experienced longer delays and higher rates of rejected federal disaster declarations during Trump’s second term.
Trump has repeatedly highlighted federal aid approval in states with competitive Republican candidates. In Ohio, a federal disaster declaration was approved days before he campaigned for Senator Jon Husted, allowing FEMA assistance for communities affected by recent storms. Similarly, in Wisconsin, Trump announced disaster aid via social media without mentioning Democratic Governor Tony Evers, instead expressing support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany.
Concurrently, the Trump administration is pushing to reduce the federal government’s role in disaster response, urging states to bolster their own emergency management capabilities and prepare to manage more of the initial response independently. FEMA Deputy Administrator Cameron Hamilton emphasized this shift at a recent meeting with state emergency managers, encouraging the use of mutual aid—as states assist one another following disasters. Many emergency officials remain uncertain about how these changes will be implemented, given the existence of a well-established mutual assistance system.
North Carolina remains a focal point of frustration regarding federal disaster response. After Hurricane Helene, FEMA has issued about $10.8 billion in aid, covering just 18 percent of the roughly $60 billion in damages—a significantly lower proportion than typical for major storms. Polls conducted in the state show low satisfaction with government response efforts, particularly in the western regions hardest hit by the hurricane.
Local residents like Gina Heath, a mother of three from Marshall, have voiced dismay over delays and politicization of assistance. “It’s really upsetting knowing we were kind of left to ourselves,” she said, adding that dangling aid “like a carrot” is a “slap in the face” to those affected.
Despite the uncertainty and criticism, Trump has reiterated his commitment to providing aid. During a visit to Gastonia last month, he linked disaster assistance to the success of Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, before retracting the statement by saying, “No, I’m only kidding. You’re getting it.” Following these developments, Cooper has gained ground in polls, with some analysts predicting a likely shift in the Senate race toward Democrats.
Western North Carolina was among the few areas where Trump’s vote share declined compared with 2020, a trend campaign operatives attribute to dissatisfaction with disaster recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. Throughout his campaign, Trump frequently criticized FEMA’s response and falsely accused the Biden administration of diverting hurricane relief funds to undocumented immigrants.