Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Partisan Divide Emerges In Federal Response To Eaton Fire

Democratic legislators tour devastated areas while Republicans are absent, as City coordinates massive emergency response and seeks crucial federal disaster funding

During Tuesday’s Legislative Policy Committee meeting, Pasadena officials detailed a stark partisan divide in the federal response to the Eaton Fire disaster, which has caused a local humanitarian crisis.

“I estimated last night that I’ve personally met with 30 members of Congress, or thereabouts,” said Committee Chair Steve Madison, describing an outpouring of support for Altadena and Pasadena from Congressional Democratic leadership, including House Democratic Caucus Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Catherine Clark, and local Representatives Judy Chu and Laura Friedman.

Notably absent? Republicans. (One local Republican who has been highly visible and tirelessly active is Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, but the Supervisorial position is nonpartisan.)

Federal legislative advocate Chris Giglio reported concerning developments in Washington: “Congressional leadership and the President have said that they would like to condition federal disaster relief for this particular event. And lots of things have been mentioned with regard to ‘raking the forests’ and ‘turning on the faucets.’”

This comes despite Congress appropriating $100 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency for extreme weather in December.

Officials also expressed concern about a “shadow freeze” on federal funding and potential impacts of federal workforce reductions on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s ability to process disaster reimbursements.

“We’re not asking for any special treatment,” Madison emphasized, “we’re just asking and looking to our federal government in this time of need when so many lives have been turned upside down and the devastation is just unimaginable.”