California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) sent a letter Friday to Congress asking for $40 billion in funding for fire relief — two weeks after signing $50 million in spending to fight the Trump administration on immigration and other policies.
As Breitbart News reported, “Both bills were passed after a special legislative session called by Newsom after the election to prepare California to lead the opposition to the second Trump administration. Newsom and the Democrat-controlled legislature reached a deal to fund the anti-Trump effort even as the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire were still smoldering in Los Angeles.”
One $25 million bill provides legal help for illegal aliens; another $25 million is to fight other Trump policies in court.
President Joe Biden provided six months’ worth of funding to California before leaving office. But the rebuild will take years, and Newsom — having launched his assault on Trump — is begging for more.
In a 14-page letter to congressional leaders published by Politico, Newsom promises: “Make no mistake, Los Angeles will use this money wisely. California will ensure that funds will serve individuals, communities, property owners, and businesses that suffered losses from these deadly fires.”
Newsom made no offer to the federal government in return — no changes in forest management, no changes in water management, no changes in emergency services, and no commitment to drop the $50 million in negative spending.
Ambassador Rick Grenell said last week that there would be “strings” on federal aid. Politico reports that Newsom is desperate not to have strings attached.
This author personally recommended to President Trump that he appoint a “special master” to oversee federal aid to California, along the lines of the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund.
WATCH: Breitbart reporter Joel Pollak shares with President Trump how he heroically battled the wildfire at his home in Pacific Palisades, he exposes the problems that led to the LA fires, and he requests that a Special Master would be appointed to watch the money so that the… pic.twitter.com/CtY2VfPvSf
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 25, 2025
The president accepted the proposal.
In 2001, less than two weeks after the September 11th terror attacks, Congress explicitly provided for a special master to oversee the disbursement of funds. Kenneth Feinberg was later appointed by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days, available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency, now available on Audible. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
