Republicans Propose Conditions on California Wildfire Aid

GOP lawmakers suggest tying disaster relief to state policy changes, sparking criticism over fairness and urgency.

Republican lawmakers, including Speaker Mike Johnson, have called for attaching conditions to federal aid for California's wildfire recovery, citing issues like forest management and tax policies.
The wildfires have devastated over 38,000 acres in Los Angeles County, killed 24 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and displaced more than 100,000 residents.
Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, argue that such conditions are unfair, noting California contributes significantly more to federal tax revenues than it receives in aid.
President Biden has already approved a major disaster declaration, providing federal resources and covering 100% of response costs for 180 days.
Critics highlight that conditioning disaster relief is rare and inconsistent, as similar aid for Republican-led states after hurricanes faced no such requirements.