Johnson Discusses California Aid
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has sparked a heated debate over disaster relief funding for California, suggesting that federal aid following the devastating wildfires near Los Angeles “should probably” come with conditions. His comments, made during a press briefing on Monday, have drawn both applause and criticism, underscoring the growing divide over how the federal government handles disaster relief for states facing repeated crises.
In his remarks, Johnson pointed to “water resource mismanagement” and “forest management mistakes” as key contributors to the severity of the fires. “It does come down to leadership,” Johnson said, highlighting what he described as a pattern of neglect from California’s state and local leaders.
“They’ve been derelict in their duty in many respects,” he continued, signaling that any future aid package should take these perceived failures into account. While Johnson acknowledged this was his personal view, he suggested it could form part of the broader discussion on aid allocation.
New — Asked Speaker Johnson about placing conditions on aid to California, and he tells us: “I think there should be conditions on that aid.” Said that’s his personal view before talking with the conference.
Also says “there’s some discussion” within the House GOP about tying… pic.twitter.com/CZmjZb7WLd
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 13, 2025
Johnson’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among top Republicans, many of whom have criticized California’s Democratic leadership, including Governor Gavin Newsom, over their handling of wildfire prevention and response. With the fires claiming at least 24 lives and causing an estimated $50 billion in damages, the stakes are high for both California residents and lawmakers in Washington.
The issue of conditions on disaster aid has already sparked sharp partisan exchanges. Democrats, like Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), warn that attaching strings to relief funds sets a dangerous precedent.
“This is a mistake. If you start this, it will never end,” Moskowitz said, cautioning that such a move could backfire if Democrats regain control of the House. He emphasized the need to keep disaster relief nonpartisan, arguing, “I would fight Democrats should they try and do this.”
Meanwhile, other prominent Republicans echoed Johnson’s concerns. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) described California’s response to the fires as a “gross failure” and suggested that strings on federal aid are likely inevitable. Vice President-elect JD Vance also weighed in, citing “a serious lack of competent governance in California” as a factor behind the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires.
Historically, disaster aid has been a bipartisan issue, approved swiftly and without significant conditions. But as CNN’s Manu Raju noted, the upcoming discussions on California’s aid package could break from that tradition. Complicating matters further is the possibility of tying disaster relief to a debt limit increase, which could inflame partisan tensions even more.