Trump Approves $17.9 Million Disaster Relief for Wisconsin

President Donald Trump announced the approval of $17.9 million in federal disaster relief for Wisconsin on October 7, 2026. The funding targets damage from an EF-3 tornado that struck the Fox Valley region in July, specifically impacting Appleton and Menasha. Federal and state assessments estimated $13.8 million in public infrastructure damage and $8.2 million in residential losses across Forest, Outagamie, Vilas, and Winnebago counties.

Trump announced the aid via Truth Social, noting the decision followed a conversation with U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, a Republican candidate for governor. Alongside the funding announcement, Trump reaffirmed his endorsement of Tiffany. Representative Tiffany stated that securing federal aid for the devastated communities had been a top priority.

Governor Tony Evers, who formally requested the disaster declaration in August, criticized the timing of the announcement. Evers accused Trump and Tiffany of playing politics with emergency funds and stated that his administration had received no official information regarding the distribution of the aid. While some local leaders expressed encouragement, they noted that state and federal agencies have yet to provide specific details on eligibility and timelines. Separately, the local charity LEAVEN has already distributed $5.4 million in direct aid to over 1,000 households in the Fox Valley.