After February's significant winter storm dropped several feet of snow on parts of the Garden State, Gov. Mikie Sherrill submitted a request to the federal government looking for relief for towns that were severely impacted.

That request was denied by the Trump administration in July and Rep. Frank Pallone wants to know why.

In a letter sent to the representatives that have oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Pallone called for an investigation into why that funding has been denied.

The letter sent to Reps. Sam Graves, Andrew Garbarino, Scott Perry and Josh Brecheen, Pallone called for them to "launch an immediate investigation into President Trump's denial of a disaster declaration for four states that federal officials determined had met government thresholds for receiving aid."

More: NJ, other states sue Trump for tying FEMA funds to election changes

Sherrill submitted an $84.4 million Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation request in April for the storm that hit on Fed. 22.

Liam Collester removes snow from his car, Monday, February 23, 2026, in Jersey City. The city had already received more than a foot of snow before noon. (Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com)
Liam Collester removes snow from his car, Monday, February 23, 2026, in Jersey City. The city had already received more than a foot of snow before noon. (Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com)
Matt Powers shovels a Jersey City sidewalk, Monday, February 23, 2026 after more than a foot of snow had blanketed the area. (Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com)
Matt Powers shovels a Jersey City sidewalk, Monday, February 23, 2026 after more than a foot of snow had blanketed the area. (Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com)
A man shovels a Jersey City sidewalk, Monday, February 23, 2026 after more than a foot of snow had blanketed the area. (Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com)
A man shovels a Jersey City sidewalk, Monday, February 23, 2026 after more than a foot of snow had blanketed the area. (Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com)
Martin Yurchk, of Elmwood Park, shovels his sidewalk during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. “And I’m not getting any younger,” says Yurchk as he shovels. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Martin Yurchk, of Elmwood Park, shovels his sidewalk during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. “And I’m not getting any younger,” says Yurchk as he shovels. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A homeowner digs out on Feb. 23 in Lincoln Park. (photo/Jaime Winters)
A homeowner digs out on Feb. 23 in Lincoln Park. (photo/Jaime Winters)
Liam Collester removes snow from his car, Monday, February 23, 2026, in Jersey City. The city had already received more than a foot of snow before noon. (Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com)
Liam Collester removes snow from his car, Monday, February 23, 2026, in Jersey City. The city had already received more than a foot of snow before noon. (Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com)
A snowplow removes snow from the roadway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A snowplow removes snow from the roadway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Borce Petreski, of Elmwood Park, uses a snowblower to clear his son’s sidewalk during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Borce Petreski, of Elmwood Park, uses a snowblower to clear his son’s sidewalk during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Ylber Seferi, who works for Elmwoodf Terrace, removes snow from the sidewalks during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Ylber Seferi, who works for Elmwoodf Terrace, removes snow from the sidewalks during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Legend, owned by Aaliyah Jenski, of Elmwood Park, plays in the snow during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Legend, owned by Aaliyah Jenski, of Elmwood Park, plays in the snow during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
John Gilmore, of Elmwood Park, uses a snowblower to clear snow from his driveway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
John Gilmore, of Elmwood Park, uses a snowblower to clear snow from his driveway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
John Gilmore, of Elmwood Park, gets covered in snow while using a snowblower to clear snow from his driveway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
John Gilmore, of Elmwood Park, gets covered in snow while using a snowblower to clear snow from his driveway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Paul Ortiz, of Elmwood Park, shovels the snow out from his front walkway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Paul Ortiz, of Elmwood Park, shovels the snow out from his front walkway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A person uses a snow plow to remove snow from a parking lot during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A person uses a snow plow to remove snow from a parking lot during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A snowplow removes snow from the roadway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A snowplow removes snow from the roadway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Edeline Wong, of Elmwood Park, pauses for a photo while shoveling her front yard during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Edeline Wong, of Elmwood Park, pauses for a photo while shoveling her front yard during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Martin Yurchk, of Elmwood Park, pauses while shoveling his sidewalk during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. “And I’m not getting any younger,” says Yurchk as he shovels. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Martin Yurchk, of Elmwood Park, pauses while shoveling his sidewalk during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. “And I’m not getting any younger,” says Yurchk as he shovels. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Borce Petreski, of Elmwood Park, uses a snowblower to clear his son’s sidewalk during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Borce Petreski, of Elmwood Park, uses a snowblower to clear his son’s sidewalk during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Alex Marcus, of Elmwood Park, takes a break while shoveling out his family’s four cars during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Alex Marcus, of Elmwood Park, takes a break while shoveling out his family’s four cars during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Aaliyah Jenski, of Elmwood Park, walks her dog, Legend, during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Aaliyah Jenski, of Elmwood Park, walks her dog, Legend, during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Ylber Seferi, who works for Elmwoodf Terrace, removes snow from the sidewalks during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Ylber Seferi, who works for Elmwoodf Terrace, removes snow from the sidewalks during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A snowplow removes snow from the roadway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A snowplow removes snow from the roadway during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Mike Salib, of Elmwood Park, clears snow from his vehicle during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Mike Salib, of Elmwood Park, clears snow from his vehicle during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Alex Marcus, of Elmwood Park, shovels out his family’s four cars during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Alex Marcus, of Elmwood Park, shovels out his family’s four cars during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A driver clears snow from his windshield during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A driver clears snow from his windshield during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A truck driver stands outside his vehicle during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
A truck driver stands outside his vehicle during a blizzard in the early morning of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Elmwood Park. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com)
Snow continues to fall in Bergen County, seen here on Ackerman Ave and Elmwood Drive in Elmwood Park, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026. (Michael V. Pettigano / NorthJersey.com)
Snow continues to fall in Bergen County, seen here on Ackerman Ave and Elmwood Drive in Elmwood Park, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026. (Michael V. Pettigano / NorthJersey.com)
Snow continues to fall in Bergen County, seen here on Ackerman Ave and Elmwood Drive in Elmwood Park, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026. (Michael V. Pettigano / NorthJersey.com)
Snow continues to fall in Bergen County, seen here on Ackerman Ave and Elmwood Drive in Elmwood Park, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026. (Michael V. Pettigano / NorthJersey.com)

Pallone noted in his letter that a FEMA spokesperson said: "If the federal government is paying for regular operations like snow removal, what next? Garbage removal? The federal government's role is not to fund routine functions," after the denial.

The congressman said that the storm was not routine but included "record-breaking snowfall, statewide travel bans, and hurricane force wind gusts" as well as 12 deaths.

"Severe snowstorms – just like hurricanes, flooding and other natural disasters – are a danger to public health and safety," Pallone wrote. "The public relies on the state and federal government to work in tandem to ensure the necessary resources are activated and available, yet once again, this administration has made a reckless and partisan decision that puts the American people in danger."

The storm, which had the potential to drop record setting amounts of snow, was among the worst in decades.

The entire state of New Jersey was placed under a blizzard warning for the first time in 30 years.

It was also the second major storm of the season after a January storm left more than a foot of snow throughout the state and caused school closures and service changes on NJ Transit.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rep. Pallone calls for investigation into FEMA denial of blizzard aid