California Democrats Urge Congress to Withhold Supplemental Funding Until Wildfire Aid Is Approved

WASHINGTON — Reps. Norma Torres (D-Calif.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and California Democratic Congressional Delegation Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) are leading a delegation-wide push urging congressional leaders to withhold support for any supplemental spending package until Congress first approves long-delayed disaster relief for communities devastated by the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

"The victims of these disasters should not be left behind while Congress acts on other emergency funding priorities," the members wrote.

The letter follows President Donald Trump's June 24 request for $67.1 billion in supplemental funding tied primarily to military operations related to the Iran conflict. California Democrats noted that the request omitted disaster recovery funding despite the enormous damage caused by the Los Angeles-area wildfires earlier this year.

According to the lawmakers, the fires killed dozens of people, displaced more than 100,000 residents, destroyed more than 13,000 homes and businesses, and caused an estimated $275 billion in economic losses. They estimate California will require approximately $34 billion in federal assistance to support long-term recovery efforts.

Sherman, who represents the Pacific Palisades, has repeatedly argued that disaster aid should never become a political bargaining chip.

During President Trump's January 24 visit to Los Angeles following the wildfires, Sherman clashed with the president after pushing back against suggestions that federal recovery assistance should be tied to changes in California's policies.

In Wednesday's letter, Sherman and his colleagues reiterated that disaster victims in California and across the country should receive timely federal assistance without political conditions.

The lawmakers also criticized what they described as a slowdown in the federal disaster response, citing FEMA data they say shows survivors are receiving assistance more slowly and facing greater difficulty accessing aid than under previous administrations.

In addition to Sherman, Torres, Chu and Lofgren, the letter was signed by nearly every Democratic member of California's House delegation, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, and Reps. Ted Lieu, Ro Khanna, Jimmy Panetta, Salud Carbajal and others.

The effort marks the latest attempt by California Democrats to increase pressure on congressional leadership and the Trump administration to approve wildfire recovery funding before lawmakers move forward on additional emergency spending legislation.