California’s request formally opens what could be a contentious debate with some House Republicans — including Speaker Mike Johnson (Louisiana) — who have said they want to attach conditions to disaster aid sent to the Democratic-run state. While President Joe Biden was still in office, he promised California leaders that the federal government would reimburse 100 percent of the initial fire recovery costs for 180 days. But damage estimates have varied widely, and state officials say the full extent of destruction is still being tabulated. Newsom’s funding request includes about $16.8 billion in fire response costs, debris removal, and the repair of roads, bridges, public buildings and utilities. It also accounts for some of the hazard mitigation money to help prevent the next disaster.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking Congress for nearly $40 billion in disaster funding to help Los Angeles recover and rebuild areas scorched by last month's devastating wildfires, the Washington Post reported on Friday citing a letter. "It's going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to rebuild from the devastating fires in LA," Newsom said in a post on social media platform X that tagged the report. "I'm asking Congress to have the back of the American people and provide disaster funding to help Californians recover and rebuild as soon as possible," he said, opens new tab, confirming the letter first reported by the Washington Post. The Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and Altadena on the eastern flank of the metropolis were the sites of the worst of the January blazes. At least 29 people died in the fires that damaged or destroyed more than 16,000 structures.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Congress to approve nearly $40 billion in aid to help the Los Angeles area recover from January’s devastating wildfires, which he said could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Newsom sent a letter Friday asking for support from lawmakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the House Appropriations Committee chair. “Los Angeles is one of the most economically productive places on the globe, but it can only rebound and flourish with support from the federal government as it recovers from this unprecedented disaster,” Newsom wrote. Estimates of the total economic loss from the firestorm have been estimated to surpass $250 billion — with real estate losses from the Palisades and Eaton fires predicted to potentially top $30 billion, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis.
