Trump Orders Faster Rebuilding After LA Wildfires

President issues executive order to bypass local permit processes, but officials say federal funding is needed, not federal control.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:23pm

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President Donald Trump issued an executive order to expedite the rebuilding process for residents in Los Angeles County affected by devastating wildfires in 2025. The order seeks to bypass city and county building regulations, but local and state officials argue they need federal disaster aid, not federal control of the permitting process.

Why it matters

The wildfires in Los Angeles County in 2025 caused significant damage, destroying thousands of homes and businesses and claiming dozens of lives. The rebuilding process has been slow, and local officials have been calling for more federal assistance. Trump's executive order aims to speed up the rebuilding, but it faces pushback from state and local leaders who say the real issue is a lack of federal funding, not bureaucratic delays.

The details

Trump's executive order allows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Small Business Administration to preempt state or local permitting processes and designate someone to accept self-certifications from builders. However, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have criticized the order, arguing that Trump should instead release federal disaster aid that has been withheld. They say the city has already issued over 1,600 home permits and that permitting timelines are twice as fast as before the fires.

  • The Palisades Fire struck the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Malibu, and Topanga Canyon in January 2025, burning 23,448 acres, destroying 6,833 buildings, and killing 12 people.
  • The Eaton Fire burned 14,021 acres, destroyed 1,073 structures, and cost 17 lives in the Pasadena/Altadena area of Los Angeles County in January 2025.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who issued the executive order to expedite rebuilding after the Los Angeles County wildfires.

Karen Bass

The Mayor of Los Angeles who criticized Trump's executive order, arguing that the city needs federal disaster funding, not federal control of the permitting process.

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California who called on Trump to release federal disaster aid instead of taking over the local permit process, noting that the state has already issued over 1,600 home permits and sped up permitting timelines.

Rob Bonta

The California Attorney General who said the state Department of Justice was reviewing Trump's executive order.

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What they’re saying

“If President Trump would like to help Los Angeles families, he should start by releasing long-delayed wildfire recovery funding.”

— California Attorney General's Press Office

“In fact, I'm calling on the President to issue a new Executive Order to demand the insurance industry pay people for their losses so that survivors can afford to rebuild, push the banking industry to extend mortgage forbearance by three years, tacking them on to the end of a 30-year mortgage, and bring the banks together to create a special fund to provide no-interest loans to fire survivors.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles

“Mr. President, please actually help us. We are begging you. Release the federal disaster aid you're withholding that will help communities rebuild their homes, schools, parks, and infrastructure.”

— Gavin Newsom's Press Office, Governor of California

What’s next

The California Attorney General's office is reviewing Trump's executive order to determine its legality and impact on the rebuilding process in Los Angeles County.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between federal and local authorities over disaster response and recovery efforts. While Trump's order aims to expedite rebuilding, local officials argue that the real need is for more federal funding and assistance, not federal control over the permitting process.