The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WILDFIRE AID TO CALIFORNIA
President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off federal emergency aid to California for forest fires. Whether the president has the authority to rescind FEMA funding that has already been approved is unclear. Individual assistance dollars help victims find temporary housing, pay for repairs to their homes or help them buy groceries, clothes or new furniture. The window to apply for this aid closes Jan. 31. It is unknown if the loss of future FEMA funding could affect those still seeking undistributed money.
PRESIDENT TRUMP
Trump tweeted Wednesday morning “billions of dollars” are sent to California to help with its wildfire recovery efforts and claimed the state would not need the funds if forests were properly managed.
“Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money,” Trump stated. “It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!”
It is unclear, based on the tweet’s wording, if Trump already directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to withhold funds or if he would be doing so. FEMA representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on the intent of the president’s tweet.
CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS
California’s Democratic lawmakers criticized Trump for his threat.
Newly sworn in Gov. Gavin Newsom told Trump they had “been put in office by the voters to get things done, not to play games with lives.”
“It’s absolutely shocking for President Trump to suggest he would deny disaster assistance to communities destroyed by wildfire,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement. “Attacking victims is yet another low for this president.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called on Republicans to condemn Trump.
“We should work together to mitigate these fires by combating climate change, not play politics by threatening to withhold money from survivors of a deadly natural disaster,” Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., tweeted.