Newsom calls on Trump to deliver federal funding for Los Angeles wildfire recovery

Gov. Gavin Newsom called on President Donald Trump to deliver long-delayed federal wildfire recovery funding during his visit to Los Angeles Tuesday, saying California has yet to receive supplemental disaster aid requested after the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires.

Newsom’s office said in a press release that California has asked FEMA to reimburse more than $1.5 billion in wildfire-related costs, including emergency response, infrastructure repairs and public facility restoration. According to the release, FEMA has approved about $37 million — roughly 2.5% of the state’s request.

“This is an opportunity for the president to honor his commitment to provide these survivors with the funding he promised them,” Newsom said in the release. “There are moments that rise above politics. This could be one of them, Mr. President.”

Trump is returning to California for the second time since retaking office. He’s attending a Republican National Committee dinner where he will “tout his wins for the people of the Golden State despite failed Democrat leadership,” according to White House spokesperson Olivia Wales.

The president last visited California in January 2025 to tour communities devastated by the Eaton and Palisades fires, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses across Altadena, the Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas.

Trump had greeted Newsom on the tarmac and pledged to “take care of things,” though the visit was also marked by his threats to condition federal disaster aid on changes to California’s voter ID and water policies.

While the Trump administration issued executive orders aimed at speeding wildfire recovery and rebuilding, California has continued to request supplemental federal funding for long-term recovery efforts, including affordable housing reconstruction and economic recovery programs.

This spring, Newsom submitted an updated supplemental funding request to the Trump administration and traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional leaders from both parties to discuss recovery efforts, according to the news release.

In June, the White House asked Congress to approve more than $80 billion in emergency supplemental funding for military operations, Ebola response efforts, agricultural assistance and Florida storm recovery. The request did not include funding for recovery from the Los Angeles wildfires, despite California’s repeated requests for supplemental disaster aid, according to Newsom’s office.

“After more than 18 months of delay, I hope President Trump’s visit brings long overdue federal recovery funding directly to the families rebuilding after the LA wildfires,” Newsom said.

This story was originally published August 5, 2026 at 4:30 AM with the headline "Newsom calls on Trump to deliver federal funding for Los Angeles wildfire recovery."