Official announcements from the White House or federal registers

Trump Uses Emergency Powers to Deploy Military, Increase Water Flow from Pacific Northwest to California Amid Wildfires

Jan 28, 2025, 05:09 AM

President Donald Trump has announced that the U.S. military has entered California under emergency powers to increase the flow of water from the Pacific Northwest to the state. This action aims to address the ongoing wildfires in Southern California by ensuring adequate water resources, following the destruction of over 16,200 structures and the loss of at least 29 lives. Trump's move overrides what he describes as 'fake environmental arguments' that have previously prioritized environmental concerns over human needs, specifically citing the protection of the Delta Smelt fish. The intervention follows an executive order signed by Trump, aimed at providing necessary water resources to Southern California and improving disaster response. The order criticizes state and local policies for leaving critical aquifers empty, which has impacted firefighting efforts and contributed to the severity of the wildfires.