[President-elect Donald Trump took to social media earlier this week, claiming that California is experiencing a severe water shortage and that Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom is the culprit. Specifically, Trump blamed Newsom’s policies for California’s drought-like conditions, without providing any credible evidence to back up his statement.
But did Trump get his facts straight?
According to records from the State Water Resources Control Board, which is responsible for managing California’s water supply, the state has actually been trending towards drought-normal conditions over the past year, with water deliveries to farms, cities, and ecosystems reaching as high as 100% or more in 2022 compared to the year before.
Even more concerning was Trump’s further claim that FEMA’s disaster relief fund was barren, leaving President Biden without necessary resources to respond to emergencies. Reality check: When Trump left office, the Flood Insurance Fund actually had a reserve of $21.3 billion, more than double the funds available when Bush left office (around $12.6 billion).
Furthermore, the Congressional Research Service has provided data showing FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund had risen from around $5 billion under President Trump (2020 figure) to about $20.4 billion just a year and a half under President Biden in 2023.
As if these discrepancies didn’t clear any doubts, according to CNN and other credible outlets, President Joe Biden’s disaster relief fund policies have, among other initiatives, expanded emergency fund allocation to smaller, under-insured communities for more targeted relief.
President-elect Donald Trump may like to blame opponents for issues before taking office; however, upon closer inspection and verifiable figures, these tall tales do a disservice not only to current and former governments but also countless Americans relying on accurate information on vital public interest issues like FEMA disaster relief resources and water policies.
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