Lofgren, Torres, Chu, & Sherman Lead CA Democratic Delegation in Demanding Disaster Aid for January 2025 LA Wildfires

WASHINGTON, DC - Today,California Democratic Congressional Delegation Chair Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), U.S. Representatives Norma Torres (CA-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), and Brad Sherman (CA-32) led the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to congressional leadership urging that no supplemental funding package move forward until Congress passes long overdue federal disaster assistance for California communities devastated by the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and other communities across the country recovering from major disasters.

More than 100,000 Californians were displaced by the January 2025 wildfires, which destroyed more than 13,000 homes and properties, claimed more than two dozen lives, and caused an estimated $275 billion in economic damage. Despite the scale of the devastation, the Administration has not taken a single step to submit a supplemental disaster funding request to Congress. This inaction is on top of the Trump Administration delaying or denying Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emergency aid, with FEMA's own data showing that the Trump Administration is making it harder to access disaster aid and moving more slowly(link is external) than previous Administrations to help disaster-hit communities.

In the letter, the members wrote:

"It is deeply disappointing that since January 2025, not a single step has been taken by the White House to submit a request for federal disaster aid, not just for California, but also for the over 30 States, Tribes, or Territories with major disaster declarations."

"President Trump's Administration is prioritizing the war in Iran over helping American communities recover from devastating disasters... Instead of taking up the June 24, 2026, Iran War supplemental request, we believe that Congress should immediately draft a federal disaster aid supplemental to help Americans rebuild their communities from the most deadly and costly wildfires in recent history."

The letter notes that while the Administration requested more than $67 billion(link is external) for military operations related to President Trump's costly war of choice in Iran, it has failed to request the approximately $34 billion(link is external) in federal disaster assistance needed for California's wildfire recovery, along with billions more needed by disaster-impacted states, Tribes, and territories across the country.

The California Democratic Congressional Delegation reaffirmed its commitment to working on a bipartisan disaster relief package that ensures American families receive the support they need to rebuild their homes, businesses, and communities.

Additional signers of the letter include: Aguilar, Pete; Barragán, Nanette; Bera, Ami; Brownley, Julia; Carbajal, Salud; Chu, Judy; Cisneros, Gilbert; Correa, J.; Costa, Jim; DeSaulnier, Mark; Friedman, Laura; Garamendi, John; Garcia, Robert; Gomez, Jimmy; Harder, Josh; Huffman, Jared; Jacobs, Sara; Kamlager-Dove, Sydney; Khanna, Ro; Levin, Mike; Liccardo, Sam; Lieu, Ted; Lofgren, Zoe; Matsui, Doris; Min, Dave; Mullin, Kevin; Panetta, Jimmy; Pelosi, Nancy; Peters, Scott; Rivas, Luz; Ruiz, Raul; Sánchez, Linda; Sherman, Brad; Simon, Lateefah; Takano, Mark; Thompson, Mike; Torres, Norma; Tran, Derek; Vargas, Juan; Waters, Maxine; Whitesides, George.

Full letter(link is external)

###