Aftermath of Palisades fire in Los Angeles   credit: CAL FIRE

March 2, 2026 - SACRAMENTO — Last Thursday, California Assembly Democrats and Republicans united to send a bipartisan message to President Trump:

Immediately deliver Los Angeles the billions of dollars in federal disaster relief that wildfire survivors and victims are owed and deserve.

This week marks one year since California and Governor Gavin Newsom formally requested the Trump administration and Congress to provide federal wildfire relief for victims and survivors of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires.

On Thursday, the Assembly voted to pass AJR 27, jointly authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian (who represents Altadena) and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (representing Pacific Palisades) with unanimous support from Democrats and many Republicans — a bipartisan demand to immediately provide that aid to L.A.

A handful of Republicans could not muster the courage to join this bipartisan message, including former Minority Leader James Gallagher, Budget Committee Vice-Chair David Tangipa and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio. 

Some Republicans opted to make excuses for the Trump administration, running interference for the president, even blaming victims and survivors by alleging residents are responsible for delays in recovery and rebuilding. 

Republican Assemblymembers who did not support the resolution also included Diane Dixon, Heather Hadwick, Natasha Johnson and Kate Sanchez.

California Assembly Democrats Demand Trump Deliver L.A. Their Federal Wildfire Relief

“When disaster strikes, California always stands with those who have lost everything — and we demand our federal government do the same. Assembly Democrats will continue to hold the White House accountable for long-delayed obligations to the people of Los Angeles. This city — resilient, mighty, indispensable to the fabric of our nation — will rebuild. And it will do so with the full support it was always promised," Speaker Robert Rivas said.

“American families who were devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires are facing the end of mortgage forbearance and the long road to rebuilding and recovery deserves certainty, support, and immediate action. Assembly Joint Resolution 27 makes clear that the people of Los Angeles County can wait no longer for the federal support they need to recover. These unprecedented disasters destroyed thousands of homes, displaced nearly 192,000 residents, and deeply impacted entire communities. California has stepped up with significant emergency funding, but the scale of this destruction requires a true federal partnership. We call on the President to immediately submit a supplemental disaster funding request to Congress and ask that Congress approve this critical aid without delay or conditions,” Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin said.

“The people of Los Angeles are facing the end of mortgage forbearance and other financial hardships as they work to rebuild what was lost. AJR 27 demands Washington set aside partisan politics to focus on supporting the victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires,” Assemblymember John Harabedian said. 

Details on the Bipartisan Resolution Demanding Trump Deliver Wildfire Relief

On Thursday, Democrats and Republicans voted for AJR 27, a bipartisan resolution that included the following:

• Demands President Trump “immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding”.
• Calls on Congress “to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the President of the United States”.
• Details that “President Trump has refused to respond to California’s request” even though “Congress and Presidents of both parties have historically approved supplemental aid after natural disasters with bipartisan support and no conditions, including aiding Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024”.

Trump Plays Politics with Federal Disaster Relief and Wildfire Aid

One year ago this week, Governor Newsom formally requested $39 billion to support waste and debris removal, housing and infrastructure repair, targeted tax relief, housing tax credits, business loans and grants, future fire risk mitigation, and other critical recovery efforts for victims.

Since that request, Trump and Republicans in Congress have failed to act.

AJR 27 calls on the federal government to fulfill its obligation to support communities recovering from disasters and to ensure that wildfire survivors in Los Angeles County receive the resources they need to rebuild.

The full bipartisan California congressional delegation has supported federal aid for Los Angeles’s recovery, including through a letter signed by all sitting California members of the U.S. House and Senate. Some California Republicans turned on their colleagues in Congress, not voting to join a similar call for disaster relief.

At a time when thousands of Californians are still navigating insurance claims, rebuilding homes and restoring their livelihoods, Assembly Republicans split over supporting fire victims — while Assembly Democrats made clear that disaster relief should not be delayed, denied, or politicized.

California taxpayers contribute billions in federal tax dollars each year. The Los Angeles fire victims deserve the same timely disaster assistance that other states receive when catastrophe strikes.

AJR 27 now formally communicates the Assembly’s demand that President Trump and Congress deliver the wildfire relief funding requested over a year ago.

Source: Assemblyman Robert Rivas