Governor’s emergency fund facing cut despite historic wildfire

By Noelle Annonen , Multimedia Reporter

March 20, 2026, 2 p.m. ·

Pillen and Nebraska Capitol building — Gov. Jim Pillen. (File photo)

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Gov. Jim Pillen declared a state of emergency one week ago as wildfires raged across hundreds of thousands of acres in Nebraska.

But the Legislature is slated to take $5 million from his emergency fund next fiscal year to help close a $471.5 million dollar budget deficit.

The governor’s emergency fund currently has $28.5 million. Lee Will, director of the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, said the original plan was to take $20 million out of the fund and that $5 million was a compromise.

“I would say it’s a little bit of a timing thing,” Will said. “That money was taken out before the fires were raging through Nebraska.”

Four wildfires have burned more than 800,000 acres across central and western Nebraska, making this the worst year for wildfires in the state’s history. As of Friday morning, the fires were mostly contained.

Will said the state is still making payments related to historic floods across the state from 2019 and likely won’t see bills for the current wildfires for years. He noted that these are the largest wildfires in the state’s history, and Nebraska expects federal dollars to assist residents who have been impacted.

The emergency fund is typically used for matching funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency when the state grapples with disasters. Will said the federal government typically covers 75% to 90% of the necessary funds, and the state covers the rest. Currently, the fund is also helping to pay for the firefighters, aircraft and supplies needed to fight the wildfires.

Sen. Robert Clements, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, said if the governor needs the funds back, the Legislature will find space in the budget for it.