Trump's FEMA denials put Illinois Republicans in a bind
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President Trump, joined by cabinet members in the Oval Office, delivers a statement in 2025 on eliminating FEMA and returning its function to the state level. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
President Trump's decisions to deny federal disaster relief to Democratic-led states are creating political complications for members of his own party.
Why it matters: The administration's push to shift more disaster recovery responsibilities to states could leave local governments facing higher cleanup costs, even in communities represented by Trump's Republican allies.
The latest: Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) sent a letter last Friday urging Trump to reconsider his administration's decision to deny FEMA assistance after powerful storms, including a derecho, ripped through parts of Illinois in August.
What they're saying: "I was on the ground in counties throughout the 16th District following these devastating storms, where I witnessed firsthand the damage that was done to our communities," LaHood wrote.
- "I support reconsideration of this decision as additional assessments move forward and I will continue to support every action that helps our communities recover and rebuild, including any potential appeal by the State."
The intrigue: LaHood, who represents large swaths of central Illinois, isn't exactly a Trump critic. He served as an honorary co-chair of Trump's Illinois campaign in 2020 and endorsed his return to the White House in 2024.
Zoom in: Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey also called on the administration to reverse the decision, even as he criticized Gov. JB Pritzker's handling of the disaster response.
- "I'm calling on FEMA to re-evaluate and reverse this decision to ensure the hardworking Americans who live in our state get the relief they desperately need."
Zoom out: The Trump administration denied portions of Colorado's request for federal assistance following devastating wildfires. Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd is stepping out to ask for additional federal help.
The big picture: A Politico analysis earlier this year found the Trump administration was approving disaster requests from Republican-led states at a substantially higher rate than those from Democratic-led states.
The other side: The White House denies that disaster relief decisions are politically motivated, maintaining that requests are evaluated under federal criteria and that states bear primary responsibility for disaster recovery.
By the numbers: Illinois reported $27.6 million in eligible damage from the August storms, surpassing FEMA's $24.9 million statewide benchmark for disaster assistance, according to documents obtained by Capitol News Illinois.
- Four of the eight counties seeking assistance, including McLean County, also met their local damage thresholds.
- LaHood cited approximately $42.5 million in storm damage in McLean County alone, according to local officials.
Reality check: Meeting FEMA's damage benchmarks doesn't automatically guarantee federal assistance. The agency considers other factors, including state and local recovery capabilities, but hasn't explained specifically why Illinois' request was denied.
What's next: Pritzker is appealing the denial, so Trump may listen to his own party's push to reconsider.