After months of inaction by Trump, Biden approves disaster assistance for Washington wildfires including Malden Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) Washington state a major disaster, approving public assistance funds requested by Gov. Jay Inslee after blazes devastated communities across the state, including the towns of Malden and Pine City. Former President Donald Trump held up the requests for more than four months over a feud with Inslee, a Democrat, despite pleas to approve the aid from Republicans and Yakama Nation and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Malden Mayor Dan Harwood drew a long, deep breath before expressing his relief that the wait was finally over.