Nearly a year after the Palisades and Eaton fires, long-term federal relief remains stalled without a formal disaster request from the Trump administration
California Gov. Gavin Newsom met with congressional leaders from both parties on Capitol Hill on Tuesday as he sought to accelerate long-delayed federal recovery aid for Los Angeles communities hit by last year’s devastating Palisades and Eaton fires.
The trip came as the region approaches the one-year anniversary of the wildfires, which destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure across the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Malibu. Despite the scale of the damage, Congress has been unable to advance long-term assistance because the Trump administration has not submitted a formal disaster aid request — a required step before lawmakers can act.
Newsom met with Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., whose committee is involved in wildfire-related legislation, and with several Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, Rep. Brad Sherman of California and Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii. Participants discussed the remaining gaps in federal support, including housing assistance, small-business loans and resources for rebuilding schools, water systems and other public infrastructure.
According to lawmakers who attended the meetings, the discussions focused on the economic and logistical hurdles facing Los Angeles communities still recovering from the fires. Officials also noted the unusual length of the delay, which they said is far outside the typical timeline for major federal disaster responses.
State and federal agencies partnered last year on debris removal, which officials described as one of the fastest wildfire cleanup efforts in the country. But long-term aid — the funding that helps rebuild homes, schools, utilities and essential services — has remained on hold.
Local officials say the stalled request has slowed reconstruction projects and left displaced families without the federal support usually available after disasters of similar scale. Small businesses in affected areas have also reported difficulty accessing recovery loans and grants normally issued in the months following a presidential disaster declaration.
Members of Congress who met with Newsom said they would continue pressing for action but acknowledged that no movement can occur until the White House sends a formal funding proposal.
