President Donald Trump signed a declaration of a state of emergency for Washington state, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all federal support measures related to destructive wildfires in the Spokane area. The agency said this on Tuesday. The decision means federal resources can now be mobilized to help mitigate the effects of the disaster and to support local authorities and residents.
The funds allocated will go toward financing evacuations, staffing emergency shelters, providing people with food and water, as well as search-and-rescue operations, confirmed Governor Bob Ferguson. Under the declaration, the federal government will cover 75% of the eligible costs. The assistance applies to Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima counties, as well as to a number of tribal communities, including the Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation, the Colville, and the Spokane Indians. The tribes are listed separately not by coincidence: federally recognized Native American tribes are sovereign nations, and their relationship with the federal government is based on a “government-to-government” principle. Therefore, they can receive assistance directly from FEMA rather than through a county or the state, and during recovery they can expect special consultations that take into account traditional practices and local territorial conditions. However, one request—cleanup of debris—was denied.
Ferguson and the entire Congressional delegation from Washington state have been actively seeking support from the Trump administration. The governor said that as early as Sunday he spoke personally with the president about the need for help, and the president “expressed concern for the people of Washington during this difficult time.” Senator Patty Murray led a letter from the delegation to Trump asking for expedited federal assistance. According to lawmakers, this is critical to protect homes, farms, schools, and hospitals, as well as to support people who have been forced to leave their homes.
Ferguson’s cooperation with the president may seem unexpected: earlier, as attorney general of the state, he repeatedly challenged decisions by the Trump administration in court. However, a division of roles applies here. As governor, Ferguson is required to protect the interests of the state’s residents and ensure they have the necessary resources, regardless of political disagreements. Lawsuits were part of the system of checks and balances, and now his task is to coordinate with the federal government. Formally, the process works like this: the governor submits a request to the White House, the president signs the declaration, and FEMA and other agencies work with the state administration through specially appointed coordinators. Political differences, meanwhile, take a back seat—federal assistance is allocated by law, not based on friendship.
The governor is already preparing another request—to declare a major disaster. That would allow individual assistance for affected residents and additional funding for restoring the state’s infrastructure. Previously, FEMA had already allocated funds to fight specific wildfires in Spokane and Okanogan counties, but those grants covered only firefighting efforts and did not cover damage to homes and businesses. It is worth noting that Trump approved a similar request from Ferguson after the December floods, when damage to roads and infrastructure totaled $182.3 million.
Based on: Trump approves FEMA relief for Spokane wildfires