how Decrease in federal spending — and how much — is used by congressional Republicans right now.
Firestorms have scorched Southern California. But a political firestorm is about to singe Capitol Hill.
The disaster dynamic has turned into a regular fiscal nightmare in Congress. And clearly, the way lawmakers deal with natural disasters creates an extreme barrier to serious reductions in the deficit and national debt.
Expect staggering expenses.
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“It’s going to be a very expensive event,” predicted Rep. George Whitesides, D-Calif.
FEMA is daring. For the price tag.
“We know it’s going to be in the billions,” FEMA Administrator Dan Criswell said.
President Biden is promising help.
“We’re going to pay the price. And we’re going to have to be prepared to pay it,” the president said. “We need the United States Congress to pursue appropriations to help provide critical assistance to our fellow Americans who need this assistance.”
Catastrophic natural disasters are now affecting various parts of the United States at an alarming rate. Devastating forest fires Expanded to Maui in 2023. Thunderstorms are common. Blackouts from the heat – or blizzards with bone-chilling cold – cripple the power grid. Twin hurricanes Milton and Helen moved south last year, chewing up the property for days apart in the fall. Water from rivers, canals, steams, canals and bridges inundates entire communities.
Congress coughed. $100 billion just before Christmas to help hurricane victims recover. Some of that money went to help people restart their businesses or cover rebuilding costs. $27 billion of that went to reload FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to prepare for future emergencies – like the one burning the Golden State now. Milton and Helen fire the DRF.
The aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires could create a fiscal nightmare for lawmakers as the new Congress continues to push for more Americans. Trying to solve the national debt.
But Republicans now run Congress. President-elect Trump will soon occupy the Oval Office. And when it comes to California — and what may have fueled the fire — Republicans may be reluctant to help. This is especially true since the Republicans’ mantra is to cut $2 trillion in spending. Indeed, some Democrats fear that congressional Republicans and President-elect Trump might try to punish California — because it leans left.
Republicans now run the House and Senate. Mr Trump took office. next week.
“When it comes to funding Congress, the idea that we’re going to have an open checkbook, no matter how bad your policies are, is crazy,” Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, said on FOX Business. said
Trump reportedly plans to issue about 100 executive orders after taking office
Democrats warned against partisan and regional conflicts when it comes to natural disasters.
“California has voted to support additional packages for hurricanes in the American South. And now is the time we need it,” Whitesides said.
Several Northern California Republicans told Fox that Southern California Democrats have been exceptionally helpful with aid for their part of the state after the wildfires.
So what happens when the bill comes due for the Los Angeles wildfires?
“We help all Americans,” said Rep. Benny Thompson, D-Miss., the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, which oversees FEMA.
Members of Congress visit a wildfire disaster area in Altadena on January 11, 2025. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Thompson was confident that Congress would meet California’s needs.
“If we need to do more, we will,” Thompson said.
Some Republicans blamed the wildfires — and their response — on the liberal Democrats who run much of California.
“This is an epic disaster of mismanagement,” said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. said on FOX Business.
“What is it? What happened in California is the fault of (California Gov.) Gavin Newsom (D) and the legislature there.
“What we can see is a failure of policy there and a failure of leadership in California,” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., wrote on Fox. “We have to have real accountability. We need hearings to understand … to get to the bottom of what’s going on. What the failures have been.”
California insurers have canceled millions of policies for homeowners in wildfire-prone areas after state regulators banned high premiums despite the risks. Some Republicans seized on the issue.
“California made some really bad policy decisions that caused those insurance companies to run away,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “The people who made these policy decisions also have to be held accountable.”
Even some Democrats questioned the local response.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., worked on a bill to help guarantee water for all Californians while serving in the state legislature.
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“Why didn’t they have water? Is it negligence or is it just the fact that there were so many fires in so many different areas all over the city that the system was being pushed to capacity and it was overwhelmed.” Gomez asked.
Other Democrats rebuked the GOP’s criticism of California leaders.
“I think it’s all just ridiculous,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif. “I think the governor is doing a great job managing the response on the ground. I don’t think we should blame anyone.”
The cost of the fires likely means a demand from Congress for another cash infusion for FEMA – just as Republicans are starting to cut billions, if not more than a trillion dollars. How can lawmakers pay for natural disasters – and still cut all that money?
“It’s always difficult. I think we just have to prioritize. And, I think we need to match any big spending with cuts from the other side,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. .
“So to be clear, when that bill comes to California, some conservatives want to see some offsets?” Asked you about Burchett.
Photo taken at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters, Washington, on Oct. 8, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
“Absolutely,” replied Burchett.
Wildfires would be a big problem if Congress hadn’t put more than $100 billion into FEMA and various other disaster funds in a bill before Christmas. Yet some Republicans doubt FEMA’s ability to do the job.
“I doubt the people of California will get their $700 they were promised. Because, as happened in North Carolina, in Tennessee, many people were turned away because all their identification was burned. Or was washed away. It would all burn, it would just be a clump,” Burchett predicted.
Florida’s former statewide emergency management director offered a dire warning.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., on MSNBC. observed, “I have bad news for everyone. Disasters are happening everywhere.”
More disasters mean additional demand for aid. That’s a challenge as Republicans try to cut spending.
Some wise souls on Capitol Hill have tinkered with developing a new model. Dealing with natural disasters. The current budget model is to allocate funds under the premise that nothing will happen. Then sometimes it’s a challenge for lawmakers to pass a bill that provides additional aid.
So there were two monster hurricanes in the fall. Forest fire now. What’s next? Earthquake? Blizzard Snow storms? Storm Drought? Flood
There has been talk of creating a “rainy day fund” — perhaps a “monsoon day fund” — that Congress could tap to send big chunks of money without worry when natural disasters strike.
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Other natural disasters are inevitable.
But congressional funding is far from enough to cover the cost.