Trump Signs Executive Order to Speed Up Rebuilding After Wildfires
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Tuesday aimed at accelerating the reconstruction of Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon, areas devastated by wildfires in January 2025.
A fact sheet from the White House indicates that the order directs FEMA Administrator Karen Evans and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler to implement regulations that bypass certain procedural requirements at the state and local levels.
The order also permits construction contractors to self-certify compliance with relevant state and local health, safety, and building regulations to federal authorities.
A year after the catastrophic fires, only 2,500 permits have been granted for rebuilding, despite the need for tens of thousands of approvals, according to the White House.
The directive calls for federal agencies to hasten the issuance of waivers, permits, and necessary approvals. It seeks to introduce legislation in Congress that would empower FEMA and the SBA to step in when state and local governments struggle to recover quickly following disasters.
Moreover, FEMA has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive audit regarding nearly $3 billion in unspent funds from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, as awarded by California.
State and local leaders have been criticized for their inability to facilitate the rebuilding process in Eaton Canyon and the Palisades, with accusations of failing their obligations to the public. The order highlights:
In just six months, the federal government has removed over 2.6 million tons of debris from more than 9,500 properties through hazardous materials cleanups.
Yet, families and small businesses affected by the fires are still dealing with delays, uncertainty, and red tape, often left without a home or income, while state and local boards have approved only limited permits for reconstruction.
Even though the federal government has granted numerous relief claims to assist property owners and support recovery, many applicants are facing barriers due to complex and inconsistent permitting processes. This has led to frustrations, especially because local leaders haven’t taken necessary actions to help these survivors rebuild. Ultimately, this reflects a significant failure on the part of California and Los Angeles to uphold their responsibilities to residents. Therefore, a year after the disaster, the majority of the destroyed homes and businesses remain unreconstructed due to bureaucratic hold-ups.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has indicated a willingness to relax local permit requirements during a discussion with Trump in January 2025.
“I just want to get started,” Trump stated, expressing confidence that the process could be trimmed down to about 18 days.
“We’re ready, Mayor. We’re ready to start,” Trump added.
“I’m ready,” Bass responded.
