According to the Politico 2024 election map, Allegany County voted 72% for Donald Trump, and Garrett County 78% for Trump, underscoring the political irony of the region’s exclusion from federal assistance despite its Republican leanings.
Governor Wes Moore condemned the move, calling it a “politicization of disaster relief.”
“This outcome is not just deeply frustrating, it also ignores the devastation wrought by historic floods in Appalachia,” said Gov. Moore. “President Trump and his Administration have politicized disaster relief, and our communities are the ones who will pay the price.”
FEMA had validated over $33.7 million in damages—nearly triple the federal threshold for aid qualification. Despite this, the Trump Administration denied Maryland’s request, effectively cutting off access to both Public Assistance funding and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which supports infrastructure hardening and climate adaptation projects.
By contrast, FEMA previously approved comparable funding for flood recovery just across the border in West Virginia, leading to criticism from Maryland officials about political inconsistency.
“The Administration’s continued denial of recovery funds for Western Maryland is completely indefensible,” said U.S. Congresswoman April McClain Delaney. “Governor Moore’s appeal met qualifying levels and mirrors FEMA resources already awarded to West Virginia.”
Leaders in Allegany and Garrett Counties described the denial as a financial and emotional blow.
“Allegany County is a small, rural Appalachian community, and this denial leaves us feeling forgotten by the federal government,” said Allegany County Commission President Dave Caporale. “Our application met—and in many areas exceeded—every requirement for federal aid.”
Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton called the decision “a profound disappointment,” but said the town remains resilient with state support.
The FEMA denial marks one of the most politically charged disaster funding rejections in recent years. Analysts note that federal disaster declarations have increasingly become flashpoints in national politics, particularly in battleground and opposition-governed states.
Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks both condemned the decision, arguing it highlights how federal disaster policy under Trump 2.0 diverges from historical norms of bipartisan relief.
“For decades, when our communities suffered from severe storms, the federal government stepped up,” said Van Hollen. “President Trump has refused twice to come to the aid of Marylanders.”
“Trump cares more about supporting billionaires than Americans facing disaster,” added Alsobrooks. “Team Maryland remains united to help Western Maryland rebuild.”
In the absence of federal funding, Governor Moore mobilized the State Disaster Recovery Fund—the first use in Maryland’s history—allocating $459,375 for individual assistance and $1 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds.
Maryland Department of Emergency Management Secretary Russell Strickland reaffirmed the state’s commitment:
“We will continue to support the impacted communities, pursuing all possible assistance and offering whatever resources we can.”
