Communities affected by the Aspen Acres wildfire, which burned more than 100,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes in southern Colorado, have less federal funding coming their way after the federal government denied two types of aid the state had requested in a disaster declaration.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Colorado’s request for Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, the governor’s office announced in a news release late Friday.
Individual assistance would have helped individuals and families in Pueblo and Custer counties find temporary housing, repair their homes, seek crisis counseling or access disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services, state officials said. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program would have funded efforts like flood prevention, stormwater system upgrades and wildfire mitigation.
The state still has access to federal public assistance funding, which will help Custer, Dolores, Ouray and Pueblo counties cover the costs of debris removal and repairs to public infrastructure. The federal government approved that funding this month.
It’s unclear how much money the state would have received under the two programs. Individual Assistance funding amounts depend on what programs individuals are eligible for, and hazard mitigation funding is calculated based on the amount of public assistance funding the state receives. That number is still being worked out as officials document damage and determine what it will cost to rebuild.
“The recent approval of Colorado’s Major Disaster Declaration request was the important first step to clear debris and allow communities to begin the process to recover. I am disappointed that Colorado was denied these additional portions of our request that would have further supported impacted families and communities,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement.
State leaders are figuring out what to do next, the release says. Colorado would have 30 days to appeal the decision if it chooses to.
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper called for President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse the decision.
“Requests for individual assistance and hazard mitigation grants are not made frivolously. These resources are whatap needed to help Colorado families and communities recover and prevent future tragedies,” Hickenlooper said in a statement Saturday. “We will continue standing with those impacted by these horrific fires and do everything we can to support them in their hour of need.”
FEMA could not be reached for comment Saturday.
This is not the first time Colorado has been denied disaster aid. Trump denied disaster aid for the Elk and Lee fires and flooding in western Colorado in 2025. The administration has come under repeated criticism for appearing to play politics with disaster relief money, with Trump often of candidates and denying claims to Democratic-led states than Republican ones.
