California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is once again asking for a federal bailout—this time to the tune of $40 billion for fire relief—just weeks after prioritizing a $50 million war chest to battle former President Donald Trump’s administration on immigration and other policies.
Despite California’s ongoing wildfire devastation, Newsom and the Democrat-controlled legislature called a special session after the election to ensure the state led the resistance against Trump.
As Breitbart News reported, $25 million of that spending is earmarked for legal aid for illegal aliens, while another $25 million is dedicated to fighting Trump’s policies in court.
Meanwhile, as communities in Los Angeles still reel from the destruction of the Palisades and Eaton fires, Newsom has turned to Congress, pleading for billions in additional aid. In a 14-page letter to congressional leaders, he assures lawmakers that “Los Angeles will use this money wisely.”
However, his request for relief comes with no commitments for policy changes—no improvements in forest or water management, no restructuring of emergency response strategies, and certainly no plans to roll back his politically motivated anti-Trump spending.
President Joe Biden had already allocated six months’ worth of funding for California’s recovery before leaving office. But instead of focusing on rebuilding efforts, Newsom chose to wage a partisan battle against Trump—only to come back, hat in hand, demanding more taxpayer money.
Newsom and Trump have had a long-standing contentious relationship, dating back to Trump’s first term when California sued his administration more than 120 times, spending approximately $42 million in legal battles. California has already joined at least one lawsuit against the Trump administration in his second term, alongside 18 other states, to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing personal data records.
Once again, California’s leadership prioritizes political posturing over real solutions, leaving its citizens to bear the brunt of its reckless policies.
