Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is blaming the Trump Administration after the Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) again denied an appeal for a major disaster declaration for counties impacted by heavy August storms.
Pritzker said the most recent decision by FEMA is really Trump playing politics in Illinois despite homeowners in need of financial relief from damages caused by the weather.
“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 Governor JB 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.”
The August 16–19 storm system featured severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, and flooding and impacted multiple counties, officials said.
The storms caused substantial flooding, significant property damage, widespread power outages, and blocked roadways for homeowners and businesses across Northern Illinois.
It also resulted in widespread property damage, prolonged power outages, and significant disruptions to transportation and essential services.
Homes, businesses, utilities, and local governments across the region were severely impacted by the storms, prompting state officials to request federal assistance from FEMA.
FEMA first denied the request in October, prompting local, county, and state officials to appeal that decision.
At that time, the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency announced they would support the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) in appealing FEMA’s inititial decision.
It resulted in new damage assessments throughout impacted areas that were sent to FEMA to review, officials said.
State officials said the state’s appeal was submitted on November 21 and followed months of coordination between local, state, and federal officials, including joint Preliminary Damage Assessments and a supplemental round of assessments in early November to capture the full scope of the damage.
“It is incredibly disappointing that an incident of this magnitude, which upended the lives of thousands of Illinoisans, was not declared a major disaster,” said the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Acting Director Theodore “Ted” Berger. “The scope of the damage validated through our joint assessments was significant. 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.”