When major disasters hit, Americans often wait weeks - or even months - for presidential approval of aid. Residents in states that did not back President Donald Trump face higher odds of denial.

Since entering office last year, Trump has granted roughly 65 major disaster declarations while rejecting more than two dozen others submitted by states, tribes and territories after hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, floods and fires.

Trump has taken longer on average to approve disaster requests than any prior president, based on an Associated Press review of records since 1989, when updated federal rules for disaster determinations took effect. No previous president showed such a stark gap in denials between politically supportive states and others.

The delays and rejections occur as the Trump administration considers restructuring the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages disaster assistance. Major disaster declarations target events exceeding state and local resources.

In his second term, Trump has rejected a larger share of disaster requests than any president since 1989. The rejections have not been distributed evenly across states.

Trump has approved 80 percent of disaster requests from Republican governors but only about 60 percent from Democratic governors, per the AP analysis of FEMA records.

The pattern stands out more clearly when viewed through 2024 election results. Trump has approved over three-fourths of requests from states that supported him but fewer than half from states that opposed him. Although federal guidelines exist, final decisions rest with the president.

A recent group of denials covered four Democratic states - Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island - seeking help after a February snowstorm.

Rhode Island's Democratic congressional delegation stated that the denial reflects extreme partisanship aimed at shifting costs onto blue states, adding that disaster aid must remain merit-based rather than politicized.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated there is no politicization in the President's decisions on disaster relief.

During his first term, Trump actually approved a higher share of requests from states that had opposed him than from those that supported him.

Yet no other president has shown such a wide partisan split in disaster declarations as seen under Trump now. Obama approved 87 percent of requests from Democratic governors in his second term and 79 percent from Republican governors, with identical rates for states that voted for or against him.

When requests are turned down, individuals, insurers and local governments must cover costs themselves.

Since Trump took office last year, approvals have averaged a month and a half after governors or other leaders submitted requests, the AP found. Adding the time needed for damage assessments, total waits often exceed two months.

By comparison, Trump approved requests in about three weeks on average during his first term, similar to President Joe Biden. Earlier presidents - Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush - averaged under two weeks.

All presidents have delayed some approvals, but delays have become standard in Trump's second term. Seventy percent of his approvals have taken at least a month, compared with about one-quarter under Biden and Trump previously, and under 10 percent for earlier presidents.

Jackson noted that Trump performs a more thorough review than prior administrations to ensure tax dollars supplement rather than replace state obligations.

Longer waits mean extended delays for federal help with living expenses, temporary housing and repairs. They also slow local recovery when officials lack certainty about federal reimbursements for debris removal and infrastructure work.

FEMA has seen four interim leaders since Trump began his term in January 2025. Cameron Hamilton awaits Senate confirmation as permanent director.

At a Senate hearing last month, Hamilton pledged faster decisions and reimbursements while committing to objective and fair reviews of requests.

Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, was dismissed as acting director in May 2025 after opposing Trump's plan to eliminate the agency. His return suggests Trump may favor reforms over full dissolution.

A Trump-appointed council has proposed changes to FEMA that would increase state responsibilities, likely cutting the number of declarations and federal payouts.

The council called for new eligibility rules, including required annual spending minimums by states, territories and tribes.

Another proposal needing congressional approval would lower the federal cost share from at least 75 percent to 50 percent, leaving states and localities to cover more. Approved governments could receive faster funding within 30 days of a declaration rather than waiting months or years.

For individuals, the council recommended combining various aid types into a single payment for those with uninhabitable homes.