The Trump administration notified Colorado Governor Jared Polis on April 13 that it denied two disaster declaration appeals for federal funding to support wildfire and flood recovery in the state.
Colorado Newsline reported that Polis asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to issue major disaster declarations for the 2025 Elk and Lee Fires and for flooding in western Colorado.
Major disaster declarations would have provided federal funds to help local communities recover and build infrastructure to prevent future damages.
The denial of these appeals means the affected regions will have fewer resources to rebuild and must address the costs without federal partnership.
Polis stated: “Colorado communities have done everything right – responding quickly, documenting the damage, and working in good faith with federal partners – only for the Trump administration to deny funding to help Colorado communities recover.
“These disasters caused real damage to homes, infrastructure, and local economies, and Coloradans should not be left to shoulder these costs alone.”
The state will look for every available path to support the communities.
The Lee and Elk fires started on August 2 in Rio Blanco County and caused more than $27 million in damage.
Extreme drought and critical fire weather conditions fueled the blazes which forced evacuations near the town of Meeker.
Over 1,200 firefighters were assigned to the fires during their peak intensity in mid-August.
Flooding in Archuleta, La Plata and Mineral counties in October caused more than $13 million in damages.
These floods damaged more than 60 miles of road and associated culverts, drainage structures and embankments.
Recreation infrastructure along with drinking water and wastewater systems also sustained damage during the flood events.
U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper released a joint statement regarding the impact on rural Coloradans.
The senators stated: “Disasters are disasters, regardless of state lines or political parties.
“President Trump’s refusal to grant Major Disaster Declarations for the 2025 Lee and Elk Fires and the Southwest Colorado flooding is callous and leaves rural Coloradans, who urgently need support, vulnerable and footing the bill.
“Critical infrastructure remains unstable, costs continue to rise, and communities remain at risk.”
The state, FEMA and local governments jointly verified the cost of the damage.
Kevin Klein, director of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), noted this is the first time in 35 years Colorado has been denied federal assistance.
According to Klein: “Our damage assessments documented and showed that each of the disasters exceeded the federal thresholds for assistance.
“Our State Recovery Task Force will continue to work on alternatives to fill the gap, but providing substantial relief to the disaster survivors becomes much more difficult with this decision.
“I don’t want it to sound like we can just fill all the gaps – we can’t, but of course we will do our best to support them.”
Colorado has spent more than $57.5 million to support disaster recovery since July 2024.
All 10 members of the Colorado congressional delegation supported the January appeal after the initial request was denied in December.
The administration has previously moved to terminate transportation funding and close the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the state.
