Trump scraps California permitting rules amid ongoing wildfires

President Donald Trump has announced plans to appoint Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to oversee permitting for home construction in Los Angeles, California, which was ravaged by wildfires last year. The fires, known as the Eaton and Palisades fires, were among the most costly in US history, causing widespread destruction and estimated damages of $65 billion.

Trump made the announcement during a speech in Washington, DC, where he stated that Zeldin would be responsible for obtaining permits. Trump also indicated that he plans to override local authorities’ control over the permitting process.

The move has reignited tensions between Trump’s administration and state and local Democrats in California, who accuse him of trying to shift attention away from the lack of federal aid for recovery efforts. The fires occurred in early January 2025 and destroyed over 38,000 acres of land, with at least 16,000 buildings destroyed.

The official death toll is estimated to be around 31, but academics have put the number of indirect deaths closer to 440, citing poor air quality, delayed medical care, and mental health causes. The cost of damage has been estimated at $65 billion, with some figures suggesting even higher losses.

Trump’s announcement comes as part of his efforts to address the rebuilding process, which has been criticized for being slow. Trump has also issued an executive order targeting Democratic leaders in California, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who is a likely contender for the presidency in 2028.

In response to Trump’s claims that local authorities have failed to rebuild southern California, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated that the President has no authority over the local permitting process. Instead, she suggested that Trump could be helpful by providing critical FEMA funding, speeding up FEMA reimbursements, and regulating industries he can impact.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is also investigating whether federal funds were awarded arbitrarily or contrary to law.

Source: Al Jazeera