Official financial reports from California state government or federal government announcements

California Unanimously Approves $2.5 Billion Relief for Los Angeles Wildfires; 28 Dead, Newsom Signs

Jan 23, 2025, 11:42 PM

California's Legislature has unanimously approved a $2.5 billion relief package to aid the Los Angeles area in recovering from wildfires that have devastated the region for weeks, killing 28 people and destroying thousands of acres. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation after it was passed in a special session, releasing the funds immediately to support state and local agencies in relief efforts, including emergency disaster response, debris removal, and accelerating rebuilding processes by helping local governments expedite building approvals. "We're all in this together," Newsom said, emphasizing the bipartisan support and unified effort to address the disaster with no conditions or strings attached. The governor expressed confidence that the federal government, specifically FEMA, will reimburse California for these costs, referencing a previous promise by President Biden to cover most of the expenses for 180 days. However, it remains unclear if President Donald Trump will uphold this commitment.