Gov. Newsom asks Congress for nearly $40 billion for wildfire relief

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Congress to o.k. astir $40 cardinal successful assistance to assistance the Los Angeles country retrieve from January's devastating wildfires, which helium said could go the costliest earthy catastrophe successful U.S. history.

Newsom sent a missive Friday asking for enactment from lawmakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the House Appropriations Committee chair.

"Los Angeles is 1 of the astir economically productive places connected the globe, but it tin lone rebound and flourish with enactment from the national authorities arsenic it recovers from this unprecedented disaster," Newsom wrote.

Estimates of the full economical nonaccomplishment from the firestorm person been estimated to surpass $250 cardinal - with existent property losses from the Palisades and Eaton fires predicted to perchance apical $30 billion, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis. More than 16,200 structures were destroyed arsenic flames ripped done Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena and Altadena.

Newsom vowed that the backing would beryllium utilized to rebuild homes, infrastructure, businesses, schools, churches and wellness attraction facilities, portion supporting the needs of radical affected by the devastation.

"Make nary mistake, Los Angeles volition usage this wealth wisely," Newsom wrote.

His largest petition is for an further $16.8 cardinal from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, mostly intended for the rebuilding of spot and infrastructure, with $5 cardinal earmarked for debris cleanup.

Newsom besides asked for $9.9 cardinal from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for grants to occurrence victims, homeowners, businesses and renters, arsenic good arsenic $5.29 cardinal from the Small Business Administration for homeowner and concern loans.

Newsom thanked President Donald Trump for enactment for fast-tracking debris removal. The missive did not notation caller threats by the Trump medication that national assistance could travel with strings attached.

"We are eternally grateful," Newsom said.

Trump has been a predominant professional of Newsom and California's h2o policies. Ric Grenell, a Trump state serving arsenic his envoy for peculiar missions, said Friday that "there volition beryllium conditions" to immoderate national assistance for the state.

He said 1 of the imaginable conditions being discussed was defunding the California Coastal Commission, which regulates coastal improvement and protects nationalist formation access. Trump has criticized the bureau arsenic overly restrictive, bureaucratic and a hindrance to timely rebuilding efforts.