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By Hollie Silverman
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California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office criticized President Donald Trump’s new executive order seeking to bypass state and local rebuilding permits after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires on Tuesday.
In a post on X, the Democratic governor's office argued that local approvals were moving faster and urged the federal government to release additional disaster funding.
The post came after the White House published an executive order on Tuesday titled “Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters,” directing agencies to consider preempting state and local permitting processes and to replace them with builder self-certification to a federal designee.
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Why It Matters
The dispute highlighted a deepening conflict over who controls the pace and process of long-term recovery in Los Angeles neighborhoods devastated by the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon fires.
Trump’s order cited alleged delays and “duplicative permitting reviews” in California as reasons to consider federal preemption, while California officials pointed to expanded state relief, faster permitting timelines relative to pre-fire baselines, and the need for federal long-term aid that has stalled in Washington, D.C., according to the executive order and multiple state announcements.
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What To Know
The executive order issued Tuesday directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to consider regulations that would “preempt State or local permitting processes” found to impede timely use of federal funds, and to substitute a builder self-certification regime overseen by federal designees, with proposed rules due in 30 days and final rules in 90 days.
The Trump administration said agencies should use available authorities under environmental and historic laws to expedite waivers and approvals for reconstruction, and ordered a federal audit of California’s use of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds, citing “nearly $3 billion in unspent” allocations and directing determinations within 30 days of audit completion, according to the executive order.
Newsom’s office said that more than 1,625 home permits had been issued, hundreds of homes were under construction, and “permitting timelines [were] at least 2x faster than before the fires,” adding that “The Feds need to release funding not take over local permit approval speed.”
Earlier this month, Newsom announced expanded CalAssist mortgage relief for Los Angeles fire survivors, efforts to bridge insurance gaps, and additional bank forbearance commitments, including programs at major lenders.
In November 2025, Newsom issued an executive order adjusting earlier directives to speed rebuilding, including streamlining sewer projects and clarifying insurance eligibility for optional rooftop solar and other code upgrades chosen by homeowners, according to the state’s announcement.
Newsom and California lawmakers sought billions in supplemental federal disaster relief for long-term recovery in Los Angeles, a campaign that state officials said stretched across 2025.
California also moved state money to recovery efforts and preparedness during a special session announced in early 2025, proposing at least $2.5 billion for Los Angeles wildfire response and rebuilding, according to public radio reporting.
The relationship between Newsom and the White House has grown more contentious during Trump's second term in office, including an episode at the World Economic Forum where Newsom said he was blocked from speaking after Trump’s address.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom's Office posted Tuesday on X: “With 1,625+ home permits issued, hundreds of homes under construction, and permitting timelines at least 2x faster than before the fires, an executive order to rebuild Mars would do just as useful. The Feds need to release funding not take over local permit approval speed.”
President Donald Trump said in an executive order released on Tuesday: “It is the policy of my Administration that federally funded reconstruction projects for homes and businesses in the wildfire-impacted neighborhoods of the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas proceed with the maximum speed consistent with public safety.”
Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement in early January: “This disaster was unprecedented, and it’s created challenges unlike anything we’ve seen before — demanding flexibility, partnership, and a willingness to adapt in real time.”
What Happens Next
FEMA and the SBA have been directed to publish proposed regulations within 30 days and final regulations within 90 days to implement potential preemption and self-certification frameworks, and to expedite environmental and historic reviews where legally permissible, according to the executive order.
California officials said they would continue expanding mortgage relief and exploring financing to close insurance gaps while pressing for federal long-term aid, with the state also citing ongoing efforts to streamline local rebuilds, according to the governor’s office.
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