“This marked one of the greatest failures of elected political leadership in American history, from enabling the wildfires to the failure to control them, and it continues today with the stunning inability to rebuild.” order reads.
The order states that state and local governments failed to prevent, respond to, and recover from the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires, which burned nearly 100,000 acres, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and displaced residents.
The order says permitting requirements and administrative processes have slowed reconstruction, despite federal debris removal and disaster assistance.
Under the command, the Department of Homeland Security – through the Federal Agency for Emergency Management (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration – are directed to consider regulations that would prioritize state and local permitting processes for federally funded reconstruction projects.
The order also directs federal agencies to expedite environmental and historic preservation reviews where permitted by law, and it directs FEMA to monitor California’s use of federal funds for hazard mitigation.
In addition, the Administration has ordered the development of legislative proposals aimed at expanding federal authority to intervene in disaster recovery efforts when state or local governments are perceived to be delaying reconstruction.
This measure increases tensions between Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom, a longtime political rival. Newsom criticized the order in a after on X.
“Donald Trump signed a useless Executive Order instead of delivering the $34 BILLION that California taxpayers EARN in wildfire relief to actually rebuild!” Newsom wrote.
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