Pritzker: Trump playing politics with FEMA disaster aid denial

Pritzker: Denial of disaster aid was "a politically motivated decision...."

By Will Stevenson

Capitol City Now

February 9, 2026 4:55 pm

ShutterstockGovernor JB Pritzker claims the denial of disaster aid was because Illinois is a "blue state."

Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A major disaster declaration in the wake of some mid-August, 2025 severe weather in Illinois won’t be coming any time soon.

That’s according to a news release from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), who says the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied the state’s appeal of a major disaster declaration for Boone, Cook, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties. The denial came in the form of a letter sent Saturday, after the state filed the appeal November 21, “which followed months of coordination between local state and federal officials,” including myriad damage assessments. Flooding, straight-line winds, and severe thunderstorms hit those counties last August 16-19 led to the request.

Governor JB Pritzker, in a news release, says he knows why Illinois was denied: politics.

“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,” said Pritzker. “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.”

IEMA Acting Director “Ted” Berger calls the denial “incredibly disappointing.”

Storms, while impacting northern and eastern Illinois, did cause some watches and warnings in the Springfield area, but not to the extent they did in Chicagoland.

The necessity of federal disaster assistance is called for under a federal law called the “Stafford Act.”