LA County supervisor thanks Trump for meeting on wildfire recovery, says other states ‘in line'

 Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R) on Friday thanked President Trump for meeting with her and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) about wildfire recovery efforts, but noted that other states are “in line” requesting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Barger told CNN’s Elex Michaelson that she spoke with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Thursday about other natural disasters that impacted states like North Carolina, Florida and Texas.

“It’s important for us to recognize that they’re also standing in line waiting for assistance,” she said. “So my goal, and I made this clear to everyone on the hill that I met with, is not to leave other states behind. It’s important for us to speak with one voice. We’re all asking for FEMA reimbursement, which is something that’s in the books.”

She said there was “heavy lifting” to do, and added that Trump recognized issues with fire rebuilding permits. Trump signed an executive order in January to speed up the rebuilding of homes in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, the California communities most affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires in January 2025.

Michaelson pressed on the dynamic between Bass and Trump during the meeting. The two have been outspoken in criticizing each other, specifically over federal immigration enforcement operations in the City of Angels.

“It was not Republican [versus] Democrat, it was about representatives there to talk about a disaster that occurred,” Barger said. “He came out, he saw it firsthand. His concern was, ‘Are you going to help the survivors rebuild?’ And the answer is yes.”

She said the president asked about rebuilding utilities and water infrastructure damaged by the fires, and that he “wanted to know what’s being done to further address future fires.”

Barger did not go into detail about how soon FEMA funding would go toward wildfire recovery.

Trump also praised the meeting on Truth Social, sharing photos with him, Bass and Barger in the Oval Office. Barger said he addressed his criticism of State Farm and other insurance companies during the meeting. The president accused them of inadequately responding to claims related to the fires.

“The Banks, however, have a long way to go, and we will be looking into their actions, effective immediately,” he wrote on Truth Social Thursday. “Wells Fargo, in particular, has been very difficult to deal with. The Banks must treat those people, who so horribly lost their Homes in this tragic fire, very fairly and well.”

Barger is the only Republican on the five women-led board, headed by Chair Hilda Solis (D). Barger’s 5th District, the largest district in Los Angeles County and includes communities in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, was affected by the Eaton fire.

Both the Palisades and Eaton fires concurrently ravaged a combined total of more than 37,000 acres, according to NASA. The fires killed 31 people and destroyed 13,000 homes and other residential properties.

California elected officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), have called on the Trump administration to permit $33.9 billion in FEMA funds to go toward fire recovery aid to rebuild schools, homes, utilities and other infrastructure destroyed by the fires.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5849208-trump-meets-barges-bass-fires/