Westchester County will not receive federal disaster aid for the February blizzard that caused more than $168 million in damage across New York State.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied the state's appeal of an earlier rejection of a Major Disaster Declaration, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday, Sept. 2. The decision leaves Westchester municipalities to absorb millions in emergency costs without federal help. That includes Rye, Harrison and Rye Brook.

County Executive Ken Jenkins condemned the denial in a statement the same day, calling it "political games again by the Trump Administration."

"Our first responders, emergency management teams, public works crews and municipal employees did not hesitate when this storm hit," Jenkins said. "They showed up, worked around the clock and did everything necessary to protect our residents and keep our communities safe."

The county and its local communities spent millions on emergency protective measures, snow removal, road and structure repairs, electric service restoration and emergency responses after the storm, according to the county. Susan Spear, Westchester County's emergency services commissioner, said the county carefully documented those expenses and exceeded the federal eligibility thresholds for FEMA support.

"That is how the federal law is supposed to work," Spear said in the county's statement. "But now the federal government has refused to honor their commitment to our communities and our first responders."

The February blizzard brought tropical-storm-force winds, snowfall rates up to four inches per hour, whiteout conditions and coastal flooding across downstate New York, Westfair Online reported. More than 175 school districts on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley closed on Feb. 23. New York City shut all public schools. Hundreds of flights were canceled and travel bans covered eight counties and all five boroughs.

Hochul said the storm met every FEMA threshold for federal assistance, according to Finger Lakes 1. FEMA has not publicly released its rationale for the denial.

Jenkins also singled out Rep. Mike Lawler, the Republican who represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which includes parts of Westchester County. Jenkins said both Trump and Lawler "forgot they are New Yorkers because they are punishing their neighbors over political disagreements."

Hochul called on Republican members of New York's congressional delegation to press the Trump administration to approve the declaration. Lawler's position on the denial could not be confirmed from available public statements.

The denial arrived one day after Jenkins backed Hochul's separate demand that the Trump administration release $87 million in counterterrorism funding being withheld from New York. That funding supports intelligence operations, transit security, bomb squads and police departments across the state, according to PoliticsNY.

No further appeal route, replacement state aid package or timetable for another federal decision has been announced.