how Cut federal spending – And by what volume – Republicans in Congress are now consumed.
Firestorms burn Southern California. But a political storm is about to burn down Capitol Hill.
The dynamic of natural disasters has turned into a regular fiscal nightmare in Congress. Frankly, the way lawmakers handle natural disasters creates a significant obstacle to making a serious difference in the national deficit and debt.
Expect staggering costs.
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Damaged cars remain in a river after flooding caused by Hurricane Helen about a month ago in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 30, 2024. (Photo by Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images)
“This is going to be a very expensive event,” predicted Rep. George Whitesides, Democrat of California.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is preparing To get a price.
“We know this is going to be in the billions,” said Diane Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
President Biden pledges to help.
“We will pay for it,” the president said. “And we have to be prepared to pay for it.” “We will need the US Congress to follow through with appropriations to help provide significant assistance to our fellow Americans who need this help.”
Catastrophic natural disasters are now striking various parts of the United States at an alarming rate. Devastating forest fires Swept through Maui in 2023. Hurricane outbreaks are the norm. Power outages due to heat — or snowstorms combined with extreme cold — weaken the power grid. Twin hurricanes Milton and Helen roared through the South last year, destroying properties just days apart in the fall. Water seeped from rivers, streams, streams, creeks and sewers, submerging entire communities.
Congress coughed $100 billion just before Christmas to help victims recover from hurricanes. Some of that money went to help people restart their businesses or cover rebuilding costs. $27 billion of that went to refinance FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to prepare for future emergencies — like the one now burning the Golden State. Milton and Helen drained the DRF.
The aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires could become a fiscal nightmare for lawmakers, as the new Congress tries to address the growing U.S. national debt.
But Republicans run Congress now. President-elect Trump will soon occupy the Oval Office. When it comes to California – and what might have started the fires – Republicans may be reluctant to help. This is especially true because the Republican mantra is to cut $2 trillion in spending. In fact, there is a fear among some Democrats that Republicans in Congress and President-elect Trump will try to punish California — because it leans left.
Republicans now run the House and Senate. Mr. Trump takes 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, told Fox Business.
Trump reportedly plans to issue about 100 executive orders after taking office
Democrats warned of partisan and regional differences when natural disasters strike.
“California voted to support hurricane supplemental packages in the American South. Now is our time of need,” Whitesides said.
Several Northern California Republicans told Fox that Southern California Democrats have been exceptionally helpful in providing aid to their part of the state after the wildfires.
So what happens when the bill for the Los Angeles wildfires comes due?
“We are helping all Americans,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Missouri, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee that oversees FEMA.
Members of Congress tour the Altadena wildfire disaster area on January 11, 2025. (Derek Schock 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 have placed the blame for the wildfires — and the response — on liberal Democrats who run much of California.
“It's an epic disaster of mismanagement,” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., told Fox Business.
“what What happened in California is the fault of (California Governor) 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, Republican of Tennessee, said on Fox. “We're going to have to have real accountability. We need to have hearings to understand…to get to the bottom of what's happening. What the failures are.”
California insurers have canceled hundreds of thousands of policies for homeowners in wildfire-prone areas after state regulators banned higher premiums — despite the risks. Some Republicans have exploited this issue.
“California made some very bad policy decisions that caused these insurance companies to flee,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Los Angeles. “The people who made these policy decisions should be held accountable as well.”
Even some Democrats questioned the local response.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., worked on a bill to help guarantee water to all Californians when they turn on the tap when he served in the state Legislature.
NEWSOM fact-checks the DNC fundraising giant's fire response links
“Why didn't they have water? Is this negligence or is it just the fact that so many fires were burning throughout the city in so many different areas that the system reached its maximum capacity and overwhelmed it?” Gomez asked.
Other Democrats rebuked GOP criticism of California leaders.
“I think this is all ridiculous,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, Democrat of California. “I think the governor is doing a great job on the ground managing the response. I don't think we should blame anyone.”
The cost of the fires will likely mean demanding another infusion of money from Congress for FEMA – just as Republicans are beginning to look to cut billions if not more than a trillion dollars. How can lawmakers cover the costs of natural disasters – and at the same time cut back all that money?
“It's always going to be difficult. I think we just have to prioritize. And I think we need to tie any significant spending to cuts on the other side,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.
“So to be clear, when this bill comes due for California, some conservatives want to see some compensation?” I actually asked you about borschette.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Washington headquarters is photographed on October 8, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
“Absolutely,” Burchett replied.
Wildfires would have been a major problem if Congress had not allocated more than $100 billion just to FEMA and various disasters in the bill before Christmas. However, some Republicans question FEMA's competence to do the job.
“I doubt that Californians will get the $700 they were promised. Because just like in North Carolina, in Tennessee, a lot of people were turned away because all their ID cards were burned or washed away. And there it will all burn out, and it will just be a mass.” Burchett predicted.
Florida's former statewide emergency management director issued an ominous warning.
“I have bad news for everyone. Disasters are coming everywhere,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said on MSNBC.
More disasters mean greater demand for relief. This is the challenge facing Republicans when they try to cut spending.
A few wise souls on Capitol Hill have tinkered with developing a new paradigm Addressing natural disasters. The current budget model is appropriations on the basis that nothing will happen. Sometimes it is difficult for lawmakers to pass a bill providing additional aid.
So there were two monster hurricanes in the fall. Forest fires now. What's next? earthquake? Snow storms? Ice storms? Hurricanes? drought? Floods?
There has been debate about creating a “rainy day fund” — perhaps a “monsoon fund” — that Congress could tap to send large sums of money without hassle when natural disasters strike.
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Other natural disasters are inevitable.
But congressional funding to cover the cost is a far cry from that.
