Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders are reportedly discussing plans to tie relief funds for California wildfire victims to a plan to raise the federal debt ceiling. If the party continues this strategy, it will politicize the response to one of the worst natural disasters in modern history.
Politico reports The idea was discussed on Sunday during a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago hotel during a meeting between Trump, leaders of the Congressional Republican Caucus and “highly influential” appropriators.
Debt ceiling It is the limit Determined by Congress how much money the federal government can borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its financial obligations. Trump tried to pressure Congress to repeal the cap in December when a spending bill in Congress was under discussion but the provision was not included. Senate Majority Leader John Thune He said recently Trump is upset about this and is pressuring Republicans in Congress to make it happen.
Republicans would likely need Democratic support to raise the cap because the party’s majority in the House is so small and many Republican members would not support the domestic spending that Democrats are demanding in exchange for their support.
But linking the debt ceiling to fire relief means creating a hostage situation, where desperate Americans will not receive federal aid until the Republican legislative demand is met.
California Governor Gavin Newsom He told NBC News The fires could be the worst natural disaster in US history.
“I think it would be just in terms of the costs associated with it, in terms of size and scope,” Newsom said.
According to In Los Angeles County, at least 24 people have died from the fire, and the death toll is expected to rise. more than 40,000 acres were burned More than 150,000 people were forced to evacuate. Hundreds, if not thousands, of homes and businesses have been destroyed.
Republicans led by Trump She responded To the flames by settling political attacks. Trump referred to Newsom as “Newscom” and concocted a false story that environmental regulations led to water shortages that hampered the fire response. Conservative media outlets, such as Fox News, also made more sarcastic comments than supportive ones. California has often drawn the ire of conservatives since the state has long supported progressive policies and voted mostly Democratic for decades.
Tying California subsidies to the debt ceiling requires resonance Trump’s approach To blue states while he was president. He and other Republicans have attacked Democratic governors seeking federal aid during the COVID-19 outbreak, and officials in his administration have lobbied against helping those states during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
By contrast, President Joe Biden Deployment of federal aid To Republican-voting states that were hit by hurricanes at the end of 2024 and lobbied Congress to help those areas.
Just days before he is inaugurated for a second term, Trump and Republicans have made clear that they intend to put partisanship ahead of uniting the country — even as catastrophic events unfold.
Donate now to support relief efforts in Southern California.