Executive Order 14377

Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters

Signed 2026-01-23 in effect
Disaster ResponseCaliforniaWildfiresFederalism ↗
Government Reform

Directs federal intervention in the Los Angeles wildfire rebuilding process, citing state and local failures. Conditions federal disaster aid on regulatory reforms.

Section by Section

What each section does, and how they differ.

Sec. 1 Purpose

Critiques California's and Los Angeles's wildfire response and failure to rebuild, noting the Federal Government's debris removal success and current administrative delays hindering recovery.

Sec. 2 Policy

Directs federally funded reconstruction in Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon to proceed at maximum speed consistent with public safety, without frustration from unnecessary permitting obstacles.

Sec. 3 Preempting State Permitting Obstacles

Directs FEMA and SBA to consider promulgating regulations preempting state and local permitting and replacing them with self-certification of compliance with substantive health and safety standards.

Sec. 4 Expediting Federal Response

Directs relevant agencies to use environmental and historic preservation law authorities to expedite waivers and approvals, with minimized scope and duration, and designates senior officials to ensure timely execution.

Sec. 5 Legislation

Directs FEMA and SBA to submit legislative proposals within 90 days enabling them to address state and local failures to enable timely post-disaster recovery.

Sec. 6 Accountability for Use of Taxpayer Dollars

Directs FEMA to audit California's use of nearly $3 billion in unspent Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding and take administrative action including recoupment where appropriate.

Sec. 7 General Provisions

Standard boilerplate: preserves existing agency authority, conditions the order on appropriations, and creates no enforceable private rights.