PACIFIC PALISADES, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order that blamed California Democrats for issues associated with rebuilding following last year’s wildfires.
The order bypasses city and county regulations, but it’s unclear how.
On Wednesday, Trump administration officials held meetings in Pacific Palisades and laid out how the federal government plans to help.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said the administration is focused on removing barriers he argued were slowing families’ ability to rebuild.
“The president wants to tear through every single obstacle that’s in front of him at Trump’s speed,” Zeldin said. “We want to know why every single one of these applications are sent back to the applicant. What is that hurdle that’s preventing them from the ability to be able to rebuild their home?”
“If you’ve had a permit on file that meets the law, you can self-certify. There’s two forms on the SBA.gov website that homeowners can download and submit with their builders. Self-certify and the check and balance on that will be inspections so this is not a free pass to break the law,” said Kelly Loeffler, the administrator of the Small Business Administration.
But state and local officials contend Trump has been the biggest obstacle to rebuilding, blocking a nearly $34 billion disaster relief request from reaching Congress.
Zeldin said Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approach is why California hasn’t received the aid.
“Tactically, the way the state has approached their funding ask of the federal governor has been a terrible strategy,” Zeldin said. “Just trying to come up with this massive umbrella, aspirational number and then to take that number, and the governor then goes campaigning to become president in 2028.”
But all fire victims want is help, not to be caught up in politics. Besides disaster aid, those rebuilding have run into issues with their insurance companies. Zeldin said he wasn’t aware of the insurance problems before this trip.
“The awareness of this practice is getting elevated to the highest levels at this point, and it’s going to be really embarrassing for these insurance companies if they decide that they’re just going to keep dragging these families through it. Enough is enough,” Zeldin said.
Eyewitness News asked the Trump administration officials whether being on the ground in the Palisades talking to fire victims has increased California’s chances of receiving federal disaster aid. We were told not until Newsom changes his tone.
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