This is a significant request from Governor Newsom, and it underscores the massive economic and infrastructural toll of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
If approved, the nearly $40 billion in aid would make this one of the most expensive disaster recovery efforts in U.S. history.
The breakdown of funds—$16.8 billion from FEMA, $9.9 billion from HUD, and $5.29 billion from the SBA—highlights the wide-ranging impact, from debris removal to housing and business recovery.
The political aspect is also notable, particularly with the involvement of President Trump and his administration’s stance on federal aid conditions.
Trump’s history of criticizing California’s environmental policies and the mention of potentially defunding the California Coastal Commission suggest that disaster relief could become entangled in broader policy disputes.