President Trump has indicated that he may withhold federal aid to California from the devastating wildfires, demanding the state alter its water management practices. This move has sparked outrage from California representatives and local officials, who argue that the state deserves the same disaster assistance as other areas hit by natural disasters. The political situation is further complicated by the tight division in Congress, where even a handful of dissenting votes could derail the aid package.
Homeowner David Marquez, left, holds a metal detector as he shows recovered metal items found with his father, Juan Pablo Alvarado, right, inside the walls of their multi-generational home in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. Donald Trump that ravaged Southern California should come with strings attached, possibly jeopardizing the president’s policy agenda in a deeply divided Congress at the outset of his second term.
“I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. Johnson said Wednesday that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did not prepare the state or the city for what was to come. He particularly cited a 117-million-gallon reservoir left unfilled for nearly a year. Newsom has called for an independent investigation of the reservoir.
A lone home stands among residences levelled by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. “Everything has conditions, especially the way California wastes money,” LaMalfa said. “We want to help people and we want to help with that, like we’ve helped with others. But California is very, very irresponsible.”
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE DISASTER AID DONALD TRUMP POLITICS WATER MANAGEMENT
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