California Governor Gavin Newsom marked the six-month anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires on Monday, emphasizing the need for billions in federal funding to aid the state’s wildfire recovery efforts. Newsom’s call comes as the GOP-led U.S. House of Representatives has yet to act on his request for $40 billion in additional wildfire funding, made earlier this year.
Newsom reiterated that the issue of fire funding transcends partisan politics. He urged Congress to understand the shared challenges faced by all states after natural disasters, highlighting ongoing requests for federal aid from regions like Texas following recent floods.
“We are all in this together,” Newsom stated, pointing to the significant needs of other states impacted by disasters.
The governor voiced his expectation that the Republican-controlled House would come through for California’s needs, urging the same support for other states such as South and North Carolina.
In a notable twist, Newsom found himself critiquing Republican leaders while simultaneously appealing for their support on disaster aid.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was scheduled to attend the event at Pasadena City College; however, she withdrew following armed federal immigration agents’ raids at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. Following these events, Newsom was particularly vocal in condemning the immigration raids, attributing them to President Donald Trump’s “polluted heart.” This marked a departure from the more conciliatory tone he had previously taken as he sought federal assistance for wildfire recovery.
The federal government’s involvement in Los Angeles County includes a record debris removal program managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Newsom reported that out of 9,873 properties enrolled in this program, 9,195 have been cleared, marking the fastest cleanup rate in California’s history following a wildfire disaster.
This efficiency surpasses the debris removal operations conducted after the Camp and Woolsey fires in 2018. According to Brian Ferguson, a spokesperson for the governor, the federal government has not only reimbursed state and local governments for direct response costs but has also allocated over $3 billion in individual assistance for homeowners and small business loans.
Long-term recovery funding generally provided by the federal government after disasters remains pending, with congressional decisions expected when lawmakers reconvene in September. Meanwhile, Reps. Judy Chu and Brad Sherman continue advocating for the supplemental aid package, emphasizing a request for funding without conditions. Some Republican lawmakers have suggested that any aid should be tied to California modifying certain policies, including those relating to water management or voter identification laws.
Sherman expressed optimism that California’s $40 billion funding request could pass through the House, potentially bundled with aid for Texas and other disaster-affected states.
Earlier this year, Newsom and President Trump seemed to have set aside their political rivalries when Trump visited Los Angeles to observe wildfire damage. The two publicly committed to collaborating on recovery efforts.
However, prior to that meeting, President Trump had threatened to impose conditions on disaster aid, linking it to more stringent voter identification laws. Since the meeting, Trump has continued to criticize Newsom and other officials in California, labeling them as “incompetent.”
In the waning days of his presidency, President Biden pledged a 100% federal coverage commitment for disaster assistance costs to California for 180 days, a promise that Newsom acknowledged President Trump’s administration has so far honored.
Despite these acknowledgments, Newsom has not shied away from criticizing the Trump administration on other pressing issues such as immigration and healthcare funding. Following the inspection of wildfire responses, Newsom condemned the recent immigration raids in MacArthur Park as “a disgrace.”
He highlighted the timing of these actions, noting that approximately 41% of California’s construction workforce is undocumented. He warned that the immigration enforcement could create substantial disruptions in a critical sector essential for the state’s recovery from the wildfires.
“They know what they’re doing, and then again, they have no idea what they’re doing,” Newsom remarked, attributing the consequences of these actions to President Trump, stating that he is responsible for the “cruelty” and “arrogance” associated with the administration’s immigration policies.
image source from：latimes
