LA fire survivors face record wait for federal disaster aid under Trump

Thousands of Los Angeles residents are still grappling with the aftermath of a historic firestorm nearly 600 days after it ravaged their communities. The devastating blazes in January 2025 reduced over 16,000 structures to ash and toxic debris, leaving behind unprecedented destruction.

Victims of the firestorm have now broken a grim record, facing the longest delay in modern history for federal aid. The Trump administration has failed to appropriate more than $15 billion in long-term recovery funds essential for rebuilding. This delay is months longer than the previous record set by victims of the Maui fires, who waited 500 days for support.

Former Washington state governor Jay Inslee criticized the situation, stating that "Donald Trump has strangled these communities by refusing to give emergency assistance." He noted that Spokane, Washington, has joined a growing list of communities devastated by climate-exaggerated fires, and that Altadena, a Los Angeles area hit hard by the fires, has not yet been able to recover.

Attorneys general from 25 Democratic-led states have sued the administration, alleging that the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA have used a "campaign of coercion." They claim the agencies are leveraging disaster support to force states to implement the president's preferred voting and immigration policies. Reports indicate that Trump has rejected disaster aid for Democratic-run states far more often than his predecessors, approving only 23% of their requests compared to 89% from Republican-led states.

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Spokane has joined a rapidly growing list of our communities that have been devastated by these climate-exaggerated fires. It has just been absolutely ripped open and has not been able to recover yet. Donald Trump has strangled these communities by refusing to give emergency assistance.