RI Lawmakers Blast Trump for Politicizing Disaster Aid & Denying RI’s Request for Blizzard Recovery Assistance

Providence, R.I. - Between February 22-23, 2026, Rhode Island was struck by a record-breaking blizzard that dumped 37.9 inches of snow in a 24-hour period and the state experienced wind gusts of 74 miles per hour. The winter storm hit Rhode Island with the intensity of a Category 2 hurricane, caused severe power outages for tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders, and tragically resulted in two fatalities and hundreds of emergency room visits. The storm created immense challenges for local businesses, which faced prolonged closures due to storm-related damage and disruptions to transportation, utilities, and public services and resulted in over $19 million worth of damage.

States hit by severe weather may request a federal declaration in order to activate federal technical and financial assistance to offset the cost of recovery, rebuilding, and reducing future risks. On February 22, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation sent a letter requesting that the Trump Administration grant the state a disaster delegation if need be. The decision to issue a disaster declaration rests with the president.

After months of inaction, on July 2, President Trump denied Rhode Island's request for a Major Disaster Declaration related to the record snowfall and cold temperatures on the same day that he approved more than $846 million in disaster relief funds for nine Republican-leaning states. In addition to rejecting Rhode Island, the Trump Administration also nixed a disaster declaration for New York for the same blizzard.

Rhode Island's Congressional delegation believes the Trump Administration improperly rejected the Ocean State's request, pointing out that President Trump has politicized disaster assistance for states over the last year and made it exponentially harder for so-called 'blue states' to get disaster funding under the highly partisan Trump Administration than it is for so-called 'red states.'

According to the Urban Institute, roughly 84 percent of disaster requests from states that voted for Trump in 2024 have been approved by his administration, compared to just 42 percent from states that voted for Kamala Harris. And Politico reporting uncovered that Republican-led states have waited 39 days on average for a decision compared to the 80-day average for Democratic-led states.

"When extreme weather strikes, helping people stay safe and helping communities recover shouldn't be a partisan issue. The President's denial is part of a pattern of extreme partisanship as he tries to shift a heavier economic burden onto blue states. Disaster aid should be merit-based, not politicized. This is a petty move that hurts people across the political spectrum. We will fight it and work to reverse it," said U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI) and and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner (D-RI) and Gabe Amo (D-RI) in a joint statement.

The federal lawmakers are urging the state to appeal the decision, which must be done within 30 days of notification, and are calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to explain in detailed writing why the state's request for assistance was denied.

The delegation sent a letter to President Trump stating: "We write to demand you immediately reverse the July 2, 2026 denial of the State of Rhode Island's request for a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for its historic February 2026 blizzard. After months of waiting, on the same day you approved major disaster declarations for several Republican-led states, you chose to leave Rhode Islanders out in the cold. It is unacceptable to politicize the disaster declaration process when Rhode Islanders' health, safety, and businesses were severely impacted by this historic storm."

The July 3 letter notes that Rhode Island officials worked with FEMA to develop a joint Preliminary Damage Assessment, which was submitted with the state's request on April 7, 2026. The extensive review found over $19 million in validated damages, an amount that greatly exceeds the threshold for a major disaster declaration.

Under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, snowstorms have historically been listed among the natural events that qualify for federal assistance. Earlier this year, Congressional appropriators from both parties affirmed in a report accompanying the 2026 Department of Homeland Security appropriations package, that the bill: "reaffirms Congress' intent … that snowstorms shall be eligible for Federal relief."

Full text of the delegation's letter follows:

Dear President Trump:

We write to demand you immediately reverse the July 2, 2026 denial of the State of Rhode Island's request for a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for its historic February 2026 blizzard. After months of waiting, on the same day you approved major disaster declarations for several Republican-led states, you chose to leave Rhode Islanders out in the cold. It is unacceptable to politicize the disaster declaration process when Rhode Islanders' health, safety, and businesses were severely impacted by this historic storm.

Between February 22-23, 2026, Rhode Island was struck by a record-breaking blizzard that produced up to 37.9 inches of snow and up to 74-mile-per-hour winds. The storm hit the state with the intensity of a Category 2 hurricane, caused severe power outages for tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders, and tragically resulted in two fatalities and hundreds of emergency room visits. The storm created immense challenges for local businesses, which faced prolonged closures due to storm-related damage and disruptions to transportation, utilities, and public services.

The State of Rhode Island worked with FEMA to develop a joint Preliminary Damage Assessment, which was submitted with the state's request on April 7, 2026. The extensive review found over $19 million in validated damages, an amount that greatly exceeds the threshold for a major disaster declaration. Given the impact this storm had on the local economy, public services, and infrastructure, you should immediately approve any appeal submitted by the State of Rhode Island to reverse the denial of its request. This will ensure that Rhode Island can access the funding it needs to fully recover from this historic storm.

Sincerely,