{"id":2395071,"date":"2025-01-25T11:28:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T16:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-lambasts-fema-response-to-la-fires-incompetently-run-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-25T11:29:44","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T16:29:44","slug":"trump-lambasts-fema-response-to-la-fires-incompetently-run-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-lambasts-fema-response-to-la-fires-incompetently-run-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump lambasts FEMA response to LA fires: \u2018Incompetently run\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-lambasts-fema-response-to-la-fires-incompetently-run-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2395071&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>During a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ny-gov-cuomo-shunned-experts-embraced-lobbyists-drove-top-health-officials-to-quit-over-pandemic-response-report\/\" title=\"NY Gov. Cuomo Shunned Experts, Embraced Lobbyists, Drove Top Health Officials To Quit Over Pandemic Response: Report\">recent press conference<\/a>, President Donald trump\u200d criticized \u200bthe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in relation to its response to\u200d the wildfires in\u200b California. He expressed dissatisfaction with the agency&#8217;s operations, claiming \u2062it is\u200b indeed \u2063&#8221;incompetently\u2064 run&#8221;\u200d and has\u2062 become\u200c less effective over time. Trump\u200d suggested that the agency should be eliminated in favor of a more localized approach to \u2062disaster management, arguing that state governments would be better equipped to \u2063handle such crises without federal interference.<\/p>\n<p>Highlighting the inefficiencies of federal responses, he used \u2062the example of\u200c FEMA&#8217;s handling of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina to illustrate his\u2062 point\u2064 that out-of-state personnel \u200dare often unfamiliar with local\u200d conditions, which can\u2062 hinder effective disaster response. Trump&#8217;s comments drew applause from\u200c attendees, as he strongly \u200badvocated for empowering local\u2063 authorities over federal bureaucracies.<\/p>\n<p>The president also <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">addressed specific operational issues<\/a>, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reformers-say-make-state-permits-more-like-pizzas\/\" title=\"Reformers propose pizza-style state permits.\">lengthy permitting process<\/a> for rebuilding after the fires, which he claimed could take up to 18 months, a point contested by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Additionally, Trump\u2062 proposed measures to expedite water access for \u2063firefighting efforts and suggested \u200dreviewing tariffs on building materials. This\u2062 visit took \u200bplace amid \u200bimportent wildfires that have devastated the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, leading to extensive destruction and loss of life.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump lambasts FEMA response to LA fires: &lsquo;Incompetently run&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1949493\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a> blasted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fema\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Federal Emergency Management Agency's\">Federal Emergency Management Agency<\/a>&lsquo;s response to the fires ravaging California.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>During a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3300568\/trump-brings-heat-roundtable-california-fire-aid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"tense press conference\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/yamiche-alcindor-doesnt-deserve-a-seat-in-the-briefing-room\/\" title=\"Yamiche Alcindor Doesn&#039;t Deserve A Seat In The Briefing Room\">tense press conference<\/a><\/a> with local officials, Trump repeatedly bemoaned the perceived decline of FEMA, saying that it &ldquo;was good&rdquo; in years past, but it&rsquo;s &ldquo;no good anymore.&rdquo; He suggested doing away with the agency altogether, suggesting that a localized approach to natural disaster response would be more effective and efficient.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in a briefing after a tour in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;FEMA is incompetently run, and it costs about three times more than just we can spend money on schools instead of giving money to bureaucracy,&rdquo; Trump said, drawing some applause from the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>He argued that the &ldquo;problem with FEMA is they come from all over the country,&rdquo; saying that large states like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/California\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">California<\/a> would have no problem gathering appropriate personnel to respond to natural disasters. A federal response that used personnel from all over the country rather than locally would lead to confusion with local conditions, he said, adding that Hurricane Helene in North Carolina was &ldquo;one of the greatest disasters of all time.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What FEMA did in North Carolina, you know, they still haven&rsquo;t gone to certain areas. They don&rsquo;t know what they&rsquo;re doing,&rdquo; Trump said. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And I say, you don&rsquo;t need FEMA. You need a good state government. And when you have a problem in Los Angeles, or when you have a problem even in the state of California, you have your own &hellip; FEMA, you fix it yourself. You don&rsquo;t have somebody coming in from a state where they have no idea,&rdquo; he continued, saying that people from Florida or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Alaska\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Alaska<\/a> wouldn&rsquo;t be properly familiar with the local conditions.<\/p>\n<p>FEMA, he declared, was a &ldquo;very expensive&rdquo; and &ldquo;mostly failed situation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>One main area of criticism was the permit process to rebuild after the fires. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3300568\/trump-brings-heat-roundtable-california-fire-aid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Trump said<\/a> that builders were looking at an 18-month waiting period before they could begin rebuilding, something Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass pushed back on.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That will not be the case,&rdquo; Bass said, after saying she had signed executive orders cutting the red tape. &ldquo;So I want you to know that we are expediting, that we absolutely need your help. We need the federal help.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump also questioned the rationale of delaying rebuilding to clear hazardous waste from the burned ruins.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Well, the hazardous waste, what&rsquo;s hazardous waste?&rdquo; Trump said to Bass. &ldquo;I mean, you&rsquo;re gonna have to define that. We&rsquo;re gonna go through a whole series of questions on determining what&rsquo;s hazard nope, nope. I just think you have to allow the people to go on their site and start the process tonight.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Reports of a shortage of water to fight the fires were also touched upon, with Trump pledging to sign an &ldquo;executive order to open up the pumps and valves in the north; we want to get that water pouring down here as quickly as possible, let hundreds of millions of gallons of water flow down into Southern California, and that&rsquo;ll be a big benefit to you.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Other suggestions from members of the roundtable  included no tariffs on building materials and prioritizing efficient forest management, proposed by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA). Trump responded saying, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll take a look at that, actually.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Tariffs have been one of Trump&rsquo;s campaign promises. He originally said he&rsquo;d impose them on his first day in office, but he&rsquo;s since floated delaying enforcing 25% tariffs on goods coming from Canada and Mexico until Feb. 1.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s trip to Los Angeles, coming after a stop in North Carolina, represents his first trip as president.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fire.ca.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"According to\">According to<\/a> Cal Fire, the blazes covering the Los Angeles and San Diego areas have scorched over 55,000 acres, killed at least 28 people, destroyed over 16,000 structures, and required an emergency response of nearly 40,000 personnel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1949493\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1949493\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump criticizes FEMA&#8217;s handling of LA fires as &#8220;incompetent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2395072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Trump-FEMA.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[18818,10362,48229,3634,32076],"class_list":["post-2395071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-fema","tag-incompetence","tag-la-fires","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Trump-FEMA.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2395071"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2395075,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395071\/revisions\/2395075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2395072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2395071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2395071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2395071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}