Amid the Los Angeles wildfires, Senator John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, said on Sunday that he expects there to be "strings attached" when it comes to aid funding for Californians.
Why It Matters
Los Angeles has been battling a series of devastating wildfires since Tuesday. At least three blazes are currently active in the region, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire). As of Sunday, at least 16 people have died, and over 12,300 structures have been destroyed, making these fires one of the costliest disasters in recent U.S. history, according to Governor Gavin Newsom and CAL Fire.
Meanwhile, prominent Republicans, including Donald Trump, have blamed California's governor for the wildfire disaster. Trump commented, "It's all his fault," urging Newsom to resign via a post on Truth Social. Trump has previously suggested withholding aid from California unless the state overhauls its water policy.
What To Know
In a Sunday interview with CBS News' Face the Nation, Barrasso, a Trump ally and the Senate majority whip, discussed the wildfires. When host Margaret Brennan asked if Congress and Republicans would assist Californians despite political differences, Barrasso replied, "I expect there will be strings attached to money that is ultimately approved, and it has to do with being ready the next time because this was a gross failure this time." He added, "In addition to the tragedy on the ground, you're also seeing gross mismanagement in California by elected officials."
Barrasso’s comments came after President Joe Biden announced a Major Disaster Declaration for the wildfire-affected areas. This declaration allows federal funds to assist with recovery efforts, including debris removal, temporary shelters, first responder salaries, and other emergency measures. Biden assured that the federal government would cover 100% of these costs for 180 days.
Congress recently allocated $110 billion in disaster relief for states affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters, including $29 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund. FEMA is among the agencies tasked with aiding Californians impacted by the wildfires.
Tensions Between Newsom and Trump
The relationship between Newsom and Trump remains strained, raising questions about future aid. California has long struggled with water management, balancing the needs of agriculture, residents, and environmental conservation. Newsom introduced measures in 2023 to improve water storage and infrastructure, such as expanding desalination projects and reservoir capacity. However, critics argue his administration has not acted swiftly enough to address persistent water issues amid worsening wildfire seasons.
During his presidential campaign in September, Trump criticized Newsom’s water policies, stating, "The water coming here is dead. And Gavin Newsom is going to sign those papers. If he doesn't sign those papers, we won't give him money to put out all his fires."
Newsom responded on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Trump of politicizing disasters: “@realDonaldTrump just admitted he will block emergency disaster funds to settle political vendettas. Today it’s California’s wildfires. Tomorrow it could be hurricane funding for North Carolina or flooding assistance for Pennsylvania. Donald Trump doesn’t care about America—he only cares about himself.”
Trump also alleged that Newsom refused to sign a “water restoration declaration” to redirect excess rain and snowmelt into California. Newsom’s administration denies the existence of such a declaration, pointing out that most water used in Los Angeles comes from local aqueducts and groundwater. The severity of the fires, compounded by high winds, was unrelated to water shortages.
Responses
Newsom has called on Trump to visit the disaster area to "understand the magnitude." In an interview, Newsom emphasized, "I’m not interested in politicizing a natural disaster. Let’s turn the page and have the next president work in the spirit of unity to recover and rebuild."
On Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Governor Gavin Newscum should immediately go to Northern California and open up the water main, and let the water flow into his dry, starving, burning State. IT'S ALREADY FAR TOO LATE!"
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told CNN, "Our focus now is helping those who have lost everything understand how to jump-start their recovery."
What Happens Next
Fire crews continue to battle the wildfires as Santa Ana winds in Southern California are expected to intensify over the weekend and potentially into next week. Whether additional federal aid will be approved after Trump assumes office remains uncertain, but California’s water policies are likely to remain a contentious issue as the crisis unfolds.
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