Gov. Sherrill, White House spar over denial of disaster relief

Federal officials have denied New Jersey’s appeal for a major disaster declaration tied to a February winter storm, leaving the state without $84 million in anticipated federal aid.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who took office weeks before the storm, blasted the decision as the latest example of President Donald Trump weaponizing disaster funds against Democratic-led states.

“Once again, Donald Trump is using the federal government to punish those he sees as his political enemies, and everyday New Jerseyans are paying the price,” she said in a statement Thursday. “Natural disasters don’t care about political parties.”

She said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency agreed that disaster relief was warranted, but Trump “overruled the experts — and common sense — leaving New Jersey taxpayers holding the $84 million bag.”

Asked to respond, White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said there is “no politicization in the President’s decision on disaster relief unlike the Biden Administration.”

“New Jersey has the fiscal and operational means to respond to this snowstorm, yet Governor Sherill wants taxpayers across America to pick up the bill,” Bis said in a statement. “President Trump provides a more thorough review of disaster declaration requests than any Administration has before him and ensures American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement—not substitute, their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters.”

The storm hit New Jersey Feb 22 and 23, dropping nearly two feet of snow across the state and knocking out power to more than 100,000 residents, just weeks after another blizzard hit the state in January. The storm caused 15 deaths, hundreds of car crashes, and nearly $100 million in statewide damages.

New Jersey filed its initial request for a major disaster declaration on April 7. The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied it in July, one of several rejections that month for Democratic-led states, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York.

The Sherrill administration appealed the decision on July 20.

Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both Democrats, echoed Sherrill’s criticism in a joint statement, arguing the state clearly met the federal bar for assistance. The two said the severe storms New Jerseyans saw in the winter are “exactly the kind of catastrophe that this support is designed to respond to.”

“Without good explanation or justification, Trump’s government is again politicizing disaster relief and denying New Jersey the support needed. This is a completely unacceptable decision – we will continue working with Governor Sherrill and communities across our state to find solutions so that New Jersey is prepared for future winter storms,” they said.

In August, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-06) called on Republicans to investigate Trump’s denial of the state’s disaster declaration. He said Wednesday that the GOP chairs of committees with jurisdiction over the Federal Emergency Management Agency have not responded.

“New Jersey communities were buried under record snowfall. But apparently if you live in a state Trump doesn’t like, you’re on your own,” said Pallone.

According to a memo compiled by House Democrats in July 2026, Trump has approved disaster aid requests from Democratic governors at a rate of 23%, compared to 89% for Republican-led states.