In brief
President Trump announced an executive order aimed at accelerating the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires by easing permitting regulations. While the order is intended to cut through bureaucratic red tape, California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized it, asserting that local officials are already issuing permits efficiently. As only a few homes have been rebuilt a year post-fires, survivors continue to face financial hurdles despite federal efforts.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has signed an executive order to 'cut through bureaucratic red tape' and speed up reconstruction of tens of thousands of homes destroyed by the January 2025 Los Angeles area wildfires. Trump's order, signed Friday, seeks to allow homeowners to rebuild without contending with 'unnecessary, duplicative, or obstructive' permitting requirements, according to a statement from the White House. The order directs FEMA and the Small Business Administration to devise regulations that would preempt local and state permitting rules and permit builders to 'self-certify' compliance with important health, safety, and building standards. California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the idea of federal control over local permits, urging Trump to approve the state's $33.9 billion disaster aid request. Newsom stated on social media that over 1,600 rebuilding permits have been issued and reconstruction is advancing quickly. As of January 7, following the wildfires, fewer than a dozen homes had been rebuilt and around 900 were under construction. The Palisades and Eaton fires claimed 31 lives and damaged about 13,000 residential properties, with cleanup efforts spanning seven months. While some assistance is welcomed, fire survivors emphasize that the primary obstacle remains financial, as securing adequate insurance payouts continues to be a significant issue. Trump's executive order, however, also initiates a review of California’s use of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, which could impose future funding conditions.
