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Republican congressman Warren Davidson calls for halting of disaster relief to California

The Republican US congressman from Ohio has called for federal disaster relief to be withheld from California unless the state reforms its forestry management practices that Trump blamed for the rapid spread of wind-fanned firesthat broke on Tuesday.

Warren Davidson’s remarks to Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo on Friday came as California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, urged officials to avoid politicizing the response to the blazes which had killed people and destroyed thousands of homes.

Davidson’s comments came in the context of a spending bill that Congress would need to pass before March to prevent a government shutdown would include disaster relief for California.

Davidson pointed to the American Relief Act, 2025 – passed in December – that contributed $110bn to disaster relief for areas affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, including North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Other disaster-affected areas were also included.

The congressman said that Congress will “need to address fires” as it had with the previous hurricane damage, “but …
if they want the money, then there should be consequences where they have to change their policies” with respect to forestry management.

“I mean, we support the people that are plagued by disaster, but we have to put pressure on the California government to change course here.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/11/warren-davidson-republican-disaster-relief-california-wildfires?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other