Washington's a blue state. Why should they care?


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Posted by mh on December 21, 2025 at 12:42:45

In Reply to: What's Israel doing beside violating the ceasefire posted by mh on December 21, 2025 at 12:41:21

As Washington state residents take stock of widespread damage, officials say the recent succession of storms highlights why proactive work to protect communities from flooding is so essential. But the Trump administration has delayed or attempted to cut federal funding for some of those projects, leaving a slate of the state’s major initiatives in limbo.

Washington had secured tens of millions of dollars in federal grants for projects to elevate houses, move people away from flood-prone areas and protect homes with new levees, among other measures.

But earlier this year, the Trump administration attempted to cancel roughly $182 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for natural hazard mitigation projects in the state, prompting a court battle. And according to Tim Cook, Washington’s state hazard mitigation officer, another $31 million in disaster prevention grants have for months been awaiting approval from Kristi Noem, the U.S. secretary of homeland security, per a department policy she implemented this summer.

The recent atmospheric river storms have forced at least 1,300 rescues and assisted evacuations, killed one person and flooded thousands of homes.


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