WASHINGTON — With President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on the horizon, federal aid to fire-ravaged Los Angeles is already embroiled in partisan political battles in Washington.
These devastating wildfires are among the most destructive and costly in U.S. history, highlighting the need for sustained funding for continued recovery efforts. But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) suggested Tuesday that Congress could mount a long political fight to continue relief funding, building on California’s liberal leadership during the disaster. .
“If (California Governor) Gavin Newsom and local leaders made a decision that made this disaster exponentially worse, as it appears they did, then there would be consequences. ” Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters on Tuesday. “Why do other states and other governors and other mayors, people who are better managing their water resources, managing their forests, care about the wrong decisions in California? Do we have to compensate? We’re not saying we’re excluding anyone. We’re going to do our part, but we may need to think carefully about our safeguards.”
Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who was overseas at the time of the Palisades fire, have faced criticism over their leadership during the wildfires. Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Christine Crowley said last week that Bass had failed in the department’s responsibilities.
California Democrats, particularly those representing areas devastated by wildfires, accused Johnson of politicizing the disaster.
“Congressman Johnson hasn’t been to California,” said freshman Rep. Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood), who represents areas destroyed by the Eaton Fire. “Once you see it, you know you need to send help right away. There are people in parts of Los Angeles who have lost everything, and it’s going to take a long time to recover.”
With less than a week until Trump’s inauguration and Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress, the impact of California’s long-running feud with Trump on the state’s recovery efforts is already coming to light. Liberal California has long served as a punching bag for conservative leaders, especially during Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Immediately after the election, Newsom called a special session of the state Legislature to “stop Trump” in the state, boosting funding for the California Department of Justice ahead of expected federal legislation. He then asked Congress to approve $2.5 billion in wildfire aid for Los Angeles.
This trend has continued in recent days, with President Trump tweeting on Truth Social Tuesday morning, “Release the water, Newsom. What’s wrong with you? DJT.” At the time, he repeated dubious claims that he offered Newsom a deal to pump water from the north, possibly from Canada, to fill California’s reservoirs.
Several leaders in Los Angeles have invited President Trump to assess the damage in the area, and Trump has indicated he intends to visit next week.
Politico reported Monday that Republican leaders who met with President Trump over the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida are linking future wildfire funding to the highly political fight to raise the debt ceiling. It was reported that they had talked about it. Prime Minister Boris Johnson considered the idea at a press conference on Tuesday, telling reporters there had been discussion of the idea among MPs.
“How can we be good fiscal stewards of the public’s wealth and fulfill our federal government’s responsibilities?” Johnson said. “It’s a delicate balance.”
President Trump and Prime Minister Johnson have said they want to raise the debt ceiling to achieve other legislative goals. With a thin majority in the House of Representatives, Johnson cannot afford to lose many Republican votes, and the party has traditionally balked at expanding federal spending, insisting instead on fiscal restraint. Johnson will likely need support from House Democrats to secure the increase. But House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) said Tuesday that “we do not support the terms of disaster relief.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S., told CNN on Monday that “there is a lot of discussion going on about how to respond and what role each level of government should play in that process.” I have no doubt that it will happen,” he said.
“I think it’s wrong to link the debt ceiling to bailing out California,” Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), who represents the West Side district affected by the Palisades fire, said in an interview Monday. Ta. “Normally you don’t say you’ll save a drowning person, but only if you get a check for a million dollars and a free Dodgers ticket. So I’m perfectly happy with any connection. No.”
Mr. Sherman said he would be willing to permanently eliminate the Congressional debt ceiling, but that it could potentially be an important lever in securing future funding for a Republican-led Congress. added that he was aware of it. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said Johnson’s proposal to combine disaster relief with “unrelated concepts” such as the debt ceiling is “outrageous.”
“We should not take advantage of the pain and suffering of our fellow citizens,” Liu said. “When Mother Nature strikes, she doesn’t care about political affiliation. At the end of the day, we’re all Americans.”
California has been providing funding for some time through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. President Biden has pledged 100% federal aid for disaster relief over the next six months, and California leaders have expressed gratitude for the president’s cooperation. But federal officials, including Biden, stopped short of guaranteeing that federal funding would continue after Trump takes office on Monday.
All Biden can say is that he “hopes” the aid continues. Trump’s promise of six months of funding could come to nothing once he begins his new term. Asked by a reporter if California would get the help it needs under the next administration, Biden said, “I’m not in a position to answer that question.” I pray to God that that’s the case,” adding that he hopes Trump officials recognize that the Trump administration has “significant experience in this matter.”
“I predict that national politics will find different ways to cause problems for California,” said Henry Brady, a politics and public policy professor at the University of California, Berkeley. “They need a boogeyman, and we’re a great boogeyman. …And they’re going to use us as one.”
FEMA Administrator Dean Criswell asserted that federal law allows Biden to commit to funding, but he did not guarantee that a future administration would not cut funding.
“Anyone can decide if they want to do something or not, but this was done in accordance with the statute, and I think the statute would say this is the direction it needs to go and not the way it should be.” We rolled back,” she said at a press conference Friday.