Trump asked aides to cut federal funding for Puerto Rico: report

President Trump recently asked his top aides for ways to limit federal funding for Puerto Rico, The Washington Post reported Monday, citing senior administration officials.

According to the Post, Trump broached the subject during a Feb. 22 meeting that was held to discuss Department of Housing and Urban Development grants.

{mosads}Trump has since continued to ask his aides about funding for Puerto Rico and has privately suggested that he won’t approve any money for the island beyond food stamps, the Post reported.

“He doesn’t want another single dollar going to the island,” a senior administration official told the Post.

The newspaper noted that the island is still feeling the effects of Hurricane Maria, which made landfall in September 2017, killing thousands of people and leaving even more without power.

The Post also reported Monday that Puerto Rico is dealing with a food-stamp crisis after Congress missed a deadline to reauthorize aid for that program, affecting about 43 percent of the island’s residents.

High-profile Democrats, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.) reacted to the Post report by criticizing Trump.

“I am appalled but sadly not surprised by reports that President Trump is continuing to try to block federal assistance for Puerto Rico. His atrocious treatment of the people of Puerto Rico is yet another example of this President’s assault on those in need,” Cuomo tweeted.

I am appalled but sadly not surprised by reports that President Trump is continuing to try to block federal assistance for Puerto Rico.

His atrocious treatment of the people of Puerto Rico is yet another example of this President’s assault on those in need. https://t.co/vjIv2JIYVU

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 25, 2019

Harris wrote in a tweet that it is “cruel” to deny assistance to the people of Puerto Rico.

“The people that are in Puerto Rico are United States citizens. They are in dire need. Denying them assistance is cruel,” she tweeted.

“[Trump] doesn’t want another single dollar going to the island.”

The people that are in Puerto Rico are United States citizens. They are in dire need. Denying them assistance is cruel. https://t.co/sRwkQ6YdU9

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 25, 2019 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.