Arkansas appeals Trump administration denial of federal aid for tornado recovery

The Hill

24-04-2025

Arkansas is appealing the Trump administration's denial of federal aid for the state's recovery efforts after a string of deadly and destructive tornado storms.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Ark.) requested help for people who were impacted by the mid-March tornadoes, some of the state's worst since 1997.
The Trump administration denied Sanders's request for funding through Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She wrote again to Trump to appeal the denial.
In a letter, signed by both Arkansas senators and its four representatives, the lawmakers asked Trump to reconsider.
'As Governor Sanders noted in her request, these storms caused catastrophic damage across the state, resulting in disastrous amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the deaths of three Arkansans, and injuries to many more,' the lawmakers wrote.
They noted that just weeks later, the state was hit with another round of severe storms, including a 'generational flood event' that compounded damage for many of the same counties and included three more deaths.
'Given the cumulative impact and sheer magnitude of destruction from these severe weather events, federal assistance is vital to ensure that state and local communities have the capabilities needed to rebuild,' the lawmakers said.
The Arkansas delegation said a preliminary assessment of damage had an estimated cost of $8.8 million and asked for Sanders's request for a 30-day extension on submitting a disaster declaration be granted. The state needs additional time to conduct analysis on the damage in 63 of its 75 counties, they said.
'The entire Arkansas delegation is eager to assist in any way possible to ensure the expedited evaluation of these requests,' the group concluded.
The denial comes as the Trump administration has criticized the agency and its efforts. The president has long critiqued the agency, including on the campaign trail and his first few days back in office.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in late March that she has plans to 'eliminate' FEMA, which Trump said was 'great.' In January, the president said he would sign an executive order to fundamentally reform and overhaul the agency or consider getting rid of it all together.
In another Arkansas request to the administration for aid, Sanders said the help is 'crucial' to her state rebuilding process.
'I am formally appealing the denial of Individual Assistance,' she wrote in a letter to Trump, later adding, 'I respectfully ask that you consider the significant strain the citizens of Arkansas have endured over the past month.'