Trump administration again rejects Illinois’ request for disaster aid
from August storm
[February 11, 2026]
By Nikoel Hytrek and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR)
The Trump administration has again rejected Illinois’ request for a
major disaster declaration covering severe storms that took place in
northern Illinois in August 2025.
The denial by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, released
Saturday, Feb. 7, is related to storms that impacted Boone, Cook, Kane,
McHenry and Will counties, resulting in flooding, wind and hail damage,
blocked roads and power outages. FEMA first rejected the state’s request
for aid in October, leading to a second appeal in November.
Gov. JB Pritzker condemned the rejection in a statement.
“Let’s call this what this is: a politically motivated decision that
punishes thousands of Illinois families in a critical moment of need.
Playing politics with disaster relief funding is a new low, even for the
Trump Administration,” he said.
Based on past reporting, approvals and denials do seem to fall along
political lines. Last year, Vermont, Maryland and Colorado also were
denied major disaster declarations. Three of the four states have
Democratic governors. Vermont reliably votes blue and its congressional
delegation is made up of Democrats.
On Feb. 6, Tennessee and Mississippi were granted major disaster
declarations for winter storms.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency said it received a letter from
FEMA saying supplemental assistance was not warranted.
The August storms
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms impacted the Chicago area for nearly 17
hours in mid-August. Some areas saw 60-70 mph winds and 4-8 inches of
rain, according to a National Weather Service report.
Extreme rainfall and wind led to flash flooding affecting roads and
homes, downed trees and power lines, and more. The damage was worst for
Belvidere, Cary, Sugar Grove, Palatine and Romeoville.
Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation on Sept. 15, which instructed
state agencies to implement Illinois emergency operations.
The denial specifically applies to the state’s request for individual
assistance from FEMA. That program provides direct financial assistance
to individuals and families who have suffered losses from a disaster.
The grant can be used for home repairs, property loss, child care,
moving, storage and more.
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This graphic from the National Weather Service shows the impact of
the August 2025 storm in the Chicago area.
“Ignoring the realities of widespread damage from the August 2025 severe
storms, speaks volumes about the federal government’s vindictive
priorities and complete disregard for American livelihoods,” Pritzker
said in his statement.
Theodore Berger, the acting director of the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, said it was
“incredibly disappointing that an incident of this magnitude, which
upended the lives of thousands of Illinoisans, was not declared a major
disaster.”
“While this federal support will not be forthcoming, we will continue to
work with local emergency management partners to support their ongoing
efforts to assist our communities in their long-term recovery,” he said.
FEMA reductions
Reporting shows states have had problems securing FEMA declarations
since Trump took office. FEMA data shows 115 disasters were declared in
2025, down from the yearly average of 164, based on the last five years
of data.
The Trump administration wants the federal government to take less
responsibility for disaster management and recovery. Those efforts
include downsizing FEMA, reducing how much the agency pays for disasters
and increasing the threshold for the estimated cost of a disaster before
the president issues a major disaster declaration.
FEMA is an agency under the Department of Homeland Security.
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by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
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