**Trump Delayed Washington Wildfire Aid Over Feud with Governor, Investigation Reveals**

In September 2020, devastating wildfires engulfed eastern Washington state, resulting in substantial property damage, displacement of hundreds, and the tragic death of a one-year-old boy. A recent investigation by POLITICO's E&E News has revealed that then-President Donald Trump refused to approve a request for $37 million in federal disaster aid from Governor Jay Inslee. The delay, fueled by a personal feud between the Republican president and the Democratic governor, stalled the recovery process and left affected communities uncertain about their future prospects for rebuilding.

Despite a comprehensive, 73-page request submitted by Inslee and a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assessment confirming that the wildfires met the federal damage threshold for disaster aid, Trump took no action on the request during the final four months of his presidency. "It really was an outrageous abuse of power," Inslee commented in a recent interview with E&E News.

The feud between Trump and Inslee had escalated in the months preceding the wildfires, with Trump publicly insulting the governor and Inslee criticizing Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic and his climate change policies. Internal emails, letters, federal records, and interviews paint a disturbing picture of how Trump allegedly used disaster aid requests to punish political opponents.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican whose district was severely affected by the wildfires, appealed to Trump on multiple occasions to approve the disaster aid. In a desperate letter dated December 31, 2020, she wrote, "People in my district need support, and I implore you to move forward in providing it to those who have been impacted by devastating wildfires." Subsequently, McMorris Rodgers introduced a bill in May 2021 to mandate presidential action on governors' disaster aid requests within 30 days.

It took President Joe Biden two weeks after his inauguration to approve Inslee's request, ultimately granting Washington state $45 million. The 141-day delay stands as the longest recorded time for presidential approval of a disaster aid request according to an E&E News analysis of FEMA data since 2007. The average time for approval is 17 days.

Incidents of Trump delaying or denying disaster aid to political critics are not isolated. Similar delays were reported for aid requests from California, Georgia, Utah, and Maryland. In several cases, Trump allegedly used the approval of disaster aid to coerce cooperation or exact political revenge, regardless of the urgent needs of the affected communities.

"This was a complete disgrace," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), highlighting the impact Trump's actions had on the residents of Malden, a town that lost 80 percent of its homes and essential services to the fires. Malden Mayor Dan Harwood noted that the delay "slowed down the start" of recovery efforts and exacerbated the stress of an already dire situation.

The investigation underscores the need for more stringent regulations on the disbursement of federal disaster aid, ensuring that vital support is delivered based on need and not political biases.