Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters

Key Points

• President Donald J. Trump has ordered federal agencies to bypass California state and Los Angeles local building permit rules for people rebuilding after recent wildfires. The order claims that local government delays and "bureaucratic malaise" have prevented thousands of families and small businesses from returning to their homes and shops.
• FEMA and the Small Business Administration are directed to create a "self-certification" system. Instead of waiting for local government approval, builders can sign a document promising they are following basic health and safety standards. This is intended to let construction start immediately using federal disaster funds.
• Federal agencies must also speed up their own internal reviews. This includes cutting down the time it takes to finish environmental and historical preservation checks for rebuilding projects in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas. The goal is to remove "procedural bottlenecks" that delay recovery.
• The government will launch a major audit of $3 billion in federal funds previously given to California for wildfire prevention. Officials will check if the state used the money effectively or if it was mismanaged. If the audit finds the money was not used correctly, the federal government may try to take those funds back.
• The order blames state and local leaders for failing to manage forests properly and failing to maintain water systems before the fires. It claims that despite the federal government clearing 2.6 million tons of debris in six months, local authorities have only approved a small fraction of the permits needed to actually rebuild.

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