President Donald Trump partially reversed his decision to deny federal disaster relief for Arkansas by approving a limited amount of aid late Tuesday.
Trump’s denial of aid following a tornado outbreak this spring drew national attention because the request came from Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican who was Trump’s press secretary during his first term.
The president has vowed to limit the amount of disaster aid that goes to states following weather-related events such as snowstorms, with administration officials asserting that states should take more responsibility for recovery.
Sanders said in a statement Tuesday that she had talked to Trump and offered her “full endorsement” of his plan to “reform” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides disaster aid. The FEMA overhaul would “save money and provide greater direct assistance to disaster victims,” Sanders said.
