California asks feds for $40B in wildfire recovery funding

Gov. Gavin Newsom petitioned the U.S. House of Representatives in a Friday letter seeking $39.68 billion in funding for California’s wildfire recovery efforts. The wildfires could make history as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history after hitting what Newsom said was one of the most economically productive areas in the world. Newsom vowed to use the funding wisely and noted that he suspended several environmental laws to fast-track rebuilding.

The ardent opponent of President Donald Trump praised the administration for supporting the state’s expedited debris removal efforts. Newsom insisted that funding would allow Los Angeles would return to its glory. The city still planned to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, he wrote. California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla publicly supported Newson’s congressional funding request on Friday.

What would he do with nearly $40 billion? Newsom described how the sum would be split between recovering private homes, community resources, and infrastructure. The main highlights from the funding request include:

• About $17 billion for public assistance to continue clearing debris and fund unexpected expenses caused by the fire for schools and medical facilities, such as expenses for extra staffing, temporary locations, and replacing materials

• About $10 billion for small business recovery loans and grants

• About $10 billion for rebuilding private homes and community infrastructure

• $2 billion in low-income housing tax credits

• About $432 million to repair water infrastructure

• About $375 million was requested for repairing workforce childcare facilities and addressing the menthol health needs of survivors.

• $350 million in post-fire recovery programs, such as those for fighting erosion, habitat restoration, and vegetation management programs

• About $100 million in rebuilding transportation infrastructure

• $51 million to enact a temporary jobs program for those who are without work after the fire

• About $36 million in low-income energy assistance program

• About $15 million in community and social service grants and programs such as programs for job placement service and transportation to work or school

• $5 million in brownfields assessment, cleanup, and multipurpose discretionary funding

• $2 million in air quality protection

• $2 million for hazard mapping and planning with wildfire effects

Dig deeper: Read my last report on the investigation into what might have sparked the devastating fires.