By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose
One year ago, California’s State and local governments faltered in their response to wildfires that devastated Los Angeles, destroying nearly 40,000 acres of homes and businesses. Their failure to implement responsible forest management, driven by an overzealous commitment to environmental policies, exacerbated the crisis. The lack of maintenance of water distribution and reservoir systems left residents unprepared for emergencies. Furthermore, evacuation warnings were communicated poorly, and decisive action to contain the flames was absent. Notably, Mayor Karen Bass’s absence during the crisis due to overseas travel highlights a significant lapse in leadership. This represents one of the most significant failures of elected officials in American history, from the initial enabling of the wildfires to the inadequate management and ongoing delays in rebuilding.
While the Biden Administration made grand promises, it wasn’t until my Administration, via Executive Order 14181 on January 24, 2025, that the fastest debris removal operation in U.S. history commenced. The Federal Government swiftly completed hazardous-materials sweeps and cleared over 9,500 properties, removing more than 2.6 million tons of debris in just six months.
However, American families and small businesses impacted by the wildfires are still mired in a nightmare of delays and bureaucratic red tape, remaining displaced from their homes and often without a source of income. State and local governments have been slow to approve the necessary permits for reconstruction, further complicating the recovery process.
The Federal Government has approved numerous individual relief claims to directly support homeowners and businesses, assisting survivors in their efforts to repair and rebuild. Yet, many have found these funds nearly inaccessible due to cumbersome and inconsistent permitting requirements, procedural bottlenecks, and administrative delays at various governmental levels. Elected leaders have failed to take even the minimal necessary actions to facilitate the rebuilding of lives, which reflects a tragic inability of California and Los Angeles to fulfill their moral and legal responsibilities to their citizens. Consequently, despite the Federal Government’s efforts to clear debris and support survivors, the actions of State and local authorities have stalled the reconstruction of the vast majority of the tens of thousands of homes and businesses destroyed.
Sec. 2. Policy
My Administration’s policy is clear: federally funded reconstruction projects for homes and businesses in the wildfire-affected neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon must proceed with maximum speed, consistent with public safety. Federal assistance should not be hindered by unnecessary or duplicative permitting requirements that prevent families and businesses from rebuilding.
Sec. 3. Preempting State Permitting Obstacles
(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the FEMA Administrator and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator, shall consider promulgating regulations to advance the policies of this order. Specifically, they shall evaluate regulations that:
(i) preempt State or local permitting processes that have unnecessarily delayed the timely use of Federal emergency-relief funds by homeowners, businesses, or houses of worship in rebuilding after a disaster; and
(ii) replace the preempted State or local permitting systems with a requirement for builders to self-certify compliance with all applicable State and local health and safety standards concerning the structures proposed for rebuilding with Federal emergency-relief funds.
(b) The relevant agencies shall publish proposed regulations within 30 days of this order and finalize them within 90 days. Each agency head will consider whether public notice and comment is unnecessary under 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other statute.
(c) The Secretary, through FEMA, shall continuously review all repair and construction activities conducted under this order for compliance with applicable health, safety, and other substantive standards.
Sec. 4. Expediting Federal Response
(a) The Federal Government has already acted to expedite administrative processes related to water delivery, as detailed in Executive Order 14181. Additionally, heads of relevant executive departments and agencies shall utilize all available authorities under Federal environmental, historic preservation, and natural resource laws to expedite waivers, permits, reviews, consultations, or approvals necessary for homes and businesses proposed for rebuilding with Federal emergency-relief funds.
(b) The heads of relevant agencies will ensure that the processes for evaluating and issuing such waivers, permits, reviews, consultations, or approvals are limited to the minimum scope and duration required to advance the policy of this order.
(c) Each agency head shall designate a senior official to ensure timely execution of these actions without delay.
Sec. 5. Legislation
Within 90 days of this order, the Secretary, through the FEMA Administrator and the SBA Administrator, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the White House Director of Legislative Affairs, shall submit legislative proposals to the President that empower FEMA and SBA to address situations where States or local governments hinder timely recovery after disasters.
Sec. 6. Accountability for Use of Taxpayer Dollars
(a) The Secretary, through the FEMA Administrator, shall:
(i) within 30 days of this order, assess what portion of the nearly $3 billion in unspent Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for California was allocated arbitrarily or contrary to law; and
(ii) within 60 days, conduct a Federal audit of California’s use of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, evaluating whether funded projects were completed on time and whether the projected risk reduction matched actual outcomes.
(b) Following the audit’s completion, the Secretary shall make administrative determinations based on the findings and recommendations, potentially imposing future grant conditions or initiating recovery actions as appropriate.
Sec. 7. General Provisions
(a) Nothing in this order impairs the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, nor affects the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget related to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented in accordance with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order does not create any enforceable right or benefit against the United States or any of its departments or agencies.
(d) The costs associated with publishing this order will be borne by the Department of Homeland Security.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 23, 2026.
