Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is speaking out after President Donald Trump’s administration denied disaster aid requests for the state.
The governor received two letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday. These letters rejected requests for major disaster declarations. Polis had asked for help after wildfires and mudslides in August and “historic flooding” in southwest Colorado in October.
Polis spoke openly. He said the denials are “political games” by the president. “Coloradans impacted by the Elk and Lee fires and the flooding in Southwestern Colorado deserve better than the political games President Trump is playing,” he said in a statement.
The governor made it clear that the state will appeal the decision. “I will take every available step to appeal this decision,” he added, showing that Colorado will not accept the denials quietly.
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Polis was not alone in criticizing the administration.
Colorado’s two Democratic senators, Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, also spoke out. Bennet wrote on X, “FEMA’s denial of Colorado’s request for federal disaster assistance is unacceptable. Western Colorado communities need help recovering after the historic flooding and wildfires this year, and federal assistance should be available to every state and county that needs it.”
FEMA’s denial of Colorado’s request for federal disaster assistance is unacceptable.
Western Colorado communities need help recovering after the historic flooding and wildfires this year, and federal assistance should be available to every state and county that needs it.…
— Michael Bennet (@SenatorBennet) December 21, 2025
Hickenlooper made a similar point. “This isn’t a game. These are people’s lives,” he said. He added, “Coloradans are trying to rebuild their lives after fires and floods destroyed homes and communities across our state. Trump’s decision to reject our disaster requests, and therefore withhold resources as our communities continue to recover, is unacceptable.”
This isn’t a game. These are people’s lives.
Coloradans are trying to rebuild their lives after fires and floods destroyed homes and communities across our state. Trump’s decision to reject our disaster requests, and therefore withhold resources as our communities continue to… https://t.co/fyfslr9F5E
— Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) December 21, 2025
The White House defended the decision. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson said there was “no politicization” in the administration’s actions. She added, “President Trump responds to each request for federal disaster assistance with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement — not substitute — their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters.”
Trump has also suggested that FEMA may be “phased out” in the future. The president wants states to take more responsibility after disasters. States already lead the response, but officials sometimes ask for federal help when local resources are not enough.
Featured image via X screengrab
