Trump Links California Wildfire Aid to Voter ID and Water Policies
Former President Donald Trump announced Friday that he would require California to implement voter ID requirements and change its water policies before providing federal aid for Los Angeles’ ongoing wildfire crisis, prompting swift responses from state officials and lawmakers.
Political Conditions for Emergency Aid
During remarks in North Carolina, Trump outlined his requirements: “I want to see two things in Los Angeles: voter ID, so that the people have a chance to vote, and I want to see the water be released and come down into Los Angeles and throughout the state.”
The former president is scheduled to tour Pacific Palisades, where wildfires have destroyed numerous homes, with thousands of residents remaining under evacuation orders.
Trump had previously stated in an interview with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity, “I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down.”
California's Current Voting Requirements
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office responded by stating that California already has voter identification requirements for registration, with residents required to provide approved forms of ID such as driver’s licenses or passports.
The governor’s office emphasized that residents must attest to being both California residents and U.S. citizens under penalty of perjury when registering to vote.
The governor’s office also noted that “15 states do not generally require voter ID at polls, including Nevada and Pennsylvania (two states won by President Trump).”
Water Policy Dispute
The governor’s office addressed Trump’s water-related demands, stating that “California pumps as much water now as it could under prior Trump-era policies.”
Trump has claimed that California officials could provide additional water flow to Los Angeles from the northern part of the state, though experts note that fire hydrants ran dry in recent weeks because of a surge in demand.
Trump has particularly focused on fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state, suggesting using federal disaster assistance as leverage to change California’s water policies.
Congressional Response
Republicans in Congress have suggested linking aid to a debt ceiling increase or changes to California’s fire-mitigation policies, while Democrats oppose placing conditions on federal assistance.
Members of Congress will be at the briefing with Trump, and the meeting could prove contentious as Trump has suggested using federal disaster assistance as a bargaining chip during unrelated legislative negotiations over government borrowing.
Rep. Young Kim, a Republican from Orange County, criticized the approach, stating, “Playing politics with people’s livelihoods is unacceptable and a slap in the face to the Southern California wildfire victims and to our brave first responders.”
