Trump moves to accelerate 2025 L.A. wildfire recovery through federal action

“American families and small businesses affected by the wildfires have been forced to continue living in a nightmare of delay, uncertainty, and bureaucratic malaise as they remain displaced from their homes, often without a source of income, while State and local governments delay or prevent reconstruction by approving only a fraction of the permits needed to rebuild,” President Trump stated in the order. 

In his continued pushback, Newsom described the order as useless and argued that the administration is attempting to seize local control while failing to deliver aid.

“An executive order to rebuild Mars would be just as useful,” Newsom posted on social media. “The Feds need to release promised funding, not try to take over local permit approval. The main obstacle is communities not having the money to rebuild because this administration is withholding aid.”

The governor’s office also later asserted that the Golden State has already issued over 1,600 permits, while emphasizing that the federal government is “mischaracterizing” the pace of progress.

The battle over L.A.’s recovery has pushed Sacramento-White House relations to an all-time low. Beyond the smoke and ash of the historic 2025 fires, a new conflict has emerged: a bitter fight over federalism and disaster management that threatens to leave residents caught in the crossfire of a political stalemate.