Trump signs executive order aimed at taking over LA wildfire rebuilding; Newsom says money is ‘main obstacle’
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The White House on Tuesday announced that President Donald Trump signed an executive order with an aim to “cut through bureaucratic red tape and speed up reconstruction in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas one year after devastating wildfires destroyed nearly 40,000 acres of homes and businesses.”
The presidential action, titled “Addressing State and Local Failures to rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters,” blamed Democratic political figures for the pace of the rebuilding process over the past year.
Trump’s order does two things: it seeks to bypass city and county building regulations and orders an audit of $3 billion in federal hazard mitigation grant program funds that were granted to California to prevent future fires.
Some property owners have complained that they need more government assistance and streamlined or suspended regulations in order to rebuild. Others say the settlements offered by Southern California Edison and their private insurance carriers are insufficient.
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Recovery from the Palisades Fire will take years, but people who were impacted by the destructive blaze are hoping changes are made much sooner so history doesn’t repeat itself.
It was not immediately clear what effect, if any, Trump’s latest executive order will have on the pace of rebuilding.
State and local officials content the president has been the biggest obstacle to rebuilding, blocking a nearly $34 billion disaster relief request from reaching Congress – essentially choking off rebuilding funds.
Soon after the text of the executive order was posted on the official White House website Tuesday morning, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office issued a response on social media.
“With 1,625+ home permits issued, hundreds of homes under construction, and permitting timelines at least 2x faster than before the fires, an executive order to rebuild Mars would do just as useful,” the statement from the governor’s office, posted on X, said. “The Feds need to release funding not take over local permit approval speed – the main obstacle is COMMUNITIES NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO REBUILD.”
Addressing Trump directly, the statement continued: “Mr. President, please actually help us. We are begging you. Release the federal disaster aid you’re withholding that will help communities rebuild their homes, schools, parks, and infrastructure.”
City News Service contributed to this report.
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