Donald Trump has signed an executive order intended to expedite the reconstruction of tens of thousands of homes destroyed by the January 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires, claiming it will cut through “bureaucratic red tape”. The order, announced on Tuesday and signed on Friday, directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration to find ways to override state and local permitting rules, allowing homeowners to self-certify compliance with safety and building standards.
However, the federal government’s authority over local permitting processes remains unclear. California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the order as useless, urging Trump to focus instead on approving the state’s $33.9bn disaster aid request. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the move a “political stunt” and demanded that Trump press insurance companies to pay out and banks to extend mortgage forbearance and create a no-interest loan fund.
The wildfires, which began on 7 January 2025, killed 31 people and destroyed around 13,000 properties. One year on, fewer than a dozen homes have been rebuilt, though construction is under way for at least 881 homes across the affected areas. According to county records, approximately 2,600 permits have been issued, representing 41% of applications received, but the majority of burned properties have not yet had applications filed.
Experts and survivor groups highlight that the primary barrier to rebuilding is not permits but money. Dr Thomas Chandler of Columbia University noted that the wealthy and developers are rebuilding faster. Joy Chen of the Eaton Fire Survivor’s Network said the biggest obstacle is financial, with survivors facing inadequate insurance payouts and soaring construction costs. A December survey found that nearly a third of survivors cited costs and insurance as their main hurdles, while 21% mentioned permitting delays.
