Governor Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders and all GOP Congress Delegations State Urged President Donald Trump to reconsider after federal emergency management reject state requests For federal disaster assistance after a series of deadly storms last month.
After a severe storm hit the country in mid -March, Sanders submitted a request for disaster assistance through FEMA, under what is known as the Declaration of the Great Disaster. The request was rejected.
“As noted by Governor Sanders in his request, this storm caused major damage throughout the state, which resulted in widespread number of debris, damage that extended to home and business, the death of three arkansans, and injuries for many people,” two Republican senators and four GOP members of the state, and four members of the GOP GOP in the state, and four members of the Republic of the State Republic of the state, and four members of the state of the state and four members of the state and four members of the state and four members in the state were the country, and four members of the state of the state and four members of the state and four members of the state and four members in the state were the country, and four members of the state of the state, and four members of the GOP in the state were. that part Write in April 21 to Trump. “Considering the cumulative impact and magnitude of the destruction of this bad weather event, federal assistance is very important to ensure that the community of state and local has the ability needed to rebuild.”
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke during an interview at the Governor’s Mansion at Little Rock, Ark., On April 18, 2025.
Thomas Metthe/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP
This is not the first time Fema has rejected the request of the new country. Earlier this month, Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson, from Washington, said that Fema had denied his country’s request for federal disaster assistance originating from “typhoon bombs” who slammed the country last November.
“This is an example of another problem from the federal government that holds funds,” said Ferguson In a statement. “The Washington community has been waiting for months for the resources they need to fully recover from the storm that destroyed the winter last, and this decision will cause further delays. We will file an appeal.”
Fema too Refusing a request From Democratic Governor North Carolina Josh Stein to extend 100% of federal funds for the transfer of debris related to the Helene Storm of Autumn that destroyed outside the time line 180 initial days.
However, the situation in Arkansas marked the first time that the Republican party openly pushed back the request for Fema assistance.
Sanders served as the Press Secretary of the White House during Trump’s first term of office.
ABC News has requested a comment from FEMA about why Arkansas’s request was rejected.
During a visit in January to several parts of North Carolina who were still left beaten by Helene, Trump criticized Fema sharply and the state suggested that the country could manage disaster assistance better than the federal government.
“You want to use your country to fix it and not waste time calling Fema,” he said. “And then Fema arrived here and they did not know the area. They had never been to that area, and they wanted to give you rules that you have never heard of. They want to bring people who are not as good as people you already have. And Fema turns out to be a disaster.”
In January, Trump issued an executive order that created an observer council to examine the agency and make recommendations for the overlapping.
ABC News’ Jack Moore contributes to this report.