Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has dismissed President Trump’s executive orders on wildfire rebuilding as ‘political stunts,’ calling instead for federal action on insurance payouts and mortgage relief for fire survivors.
More than a year after devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles, the political battle over rebuilding has intensified between Mayor Karen Bass and President Trump. The friction centers on who controls the recovery process and what federal help looks like for thousands of displaced families.
The clash reached new heights in late January when Trump signed an executive order aimed at bypassing local permitting processes. The order allows homeowners to ‘self-certify’ compliance with building standards if local officials don’t approve permits within 60 days. Trump appointed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to oversee the effort, promising to ‘tear through every single obstacle’ slowing rebuilding.
Bass fired back immediately, calling the move ‘another meaningless political stunt.’ She argued that Trump has no authority to control local permit processes and accused him of trying to divert attention from other issues. ‘The city is not flush with funds,’ Bass said in a statement. ‘We need to be reimbursed.’
Instead of federal interference in permitting, Bass wants Trump to focus on areas where the federal government actually has leverage. She’s calling for an executive order demanding insurance companies pay fire survivors for their losses, pushing banks to extend mortgage forbearance by three years, and creating special no-interest loan funds.
The numbers tell a complex story. Los Angeles has issued more than 1,600 rebuilding permits, with officials claiming they’re moving at record speed. Bass says rebuilding plans in Pacific Palisades are being approved in half the time compared to pre-fire projects, with over 70% of permit clearances no longer required.
Yet thousands of property owners remain stuck. A December survey by the Department of Angels found that nearly one-third of survivors cite rebuild costs and insurance payouts as primary obstacles, while 21% mentioned permitting delays. Many families hesitate to start rebuilding without knowing if they’ll have insurance coverage in the future.
The financial stakes are enormous. California Governor Gavin Newsom has requested $33.9 billion in federal disaster aid, but the Trump administration hasn’t approved it. One of the most expensive projects still looming is the plan to underground utilities in the Palisades – a massive undertaking that could cost more than $1 billion.
Trump has taken a different approach, threatening to withhold federal funds over state policies and criticizing California’s environmental regulations. His executive order also directs federal agencies to audit California’s use of hazard mitigation funding, with potential ‘recoupment or recovery actions’ if problems are found.
The political tensions date back to Trump’s visit to Los Angeles just days after the fires. During a tense roundtable discussion, Bass gave an 18-month timeline for rebuilding, which Trump vehemently disagreed with. ‘They want to start now,’ Trump said at the time. ‘They want to start removing things and are not allowed to do it now.’
Behind the political theater, real families are struggling. Many fire survivors remain in temporary housing, juggling insurance claims, contractor negotiations, and mounting financial strain. The one-year mortgage forbearance period required by state law is ending, adding pressure on families already stretched thin.
Bass has asked banks to voluntarily extend mortgage relief for another three years, bringing the total forbearance period to four years. ‘Asking them to shoulder mortgage payments on top of all that would force them into an impossible choice,’ she said.
The rebuilding effort has become a test case for federal-state cooperation during disasters. While both sides claim to want faster recovery, they disagree fundamentally on the path forward. Trump sees bureaucratic red tape as the main obstacle, while Bass points to funding shortfalls and insurance industry problems.
As the political battle continues, displaced residents watch from hotel rooms and temporary housing. The Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed more than 16,200 buildings and killed 31 people. For survivors, the question isn’t about political victories – it’s about when they can finally go home.
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