President Trump threatened to cut off federal funding for California as wildfires devastate both the north and south ends of the state.
Trump tweeted early Saturday morning there is “no reason” for the “massive, deadly and costly” wildfires that has already killed nine people. Trump added that forest management is poor.
“Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests,” Trump tweeted. “Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!”
Authorities have said nine people have died in the northern town of Paradise, where the fast-moving Camp Fire has become the most destructive wildfire in state history. Meanwhile, two other fires tear through the southern part of California, wrecking homes in Malibu and elsewhere, prompting celebrities to flee.
Trump approved an emergency declaration for California that enables federal assistance to fight the wildfires that started on Nov. 8.
The president previously blamed California’s wildfires on bad environmental laws. Trump tweeted in August that the wildfires are “made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean.”
California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2018
California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which is responsible for wildland fire protection, had a budget of $2.3 billion for 2018-2019.
