Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Barger Tells Trump Officials: Lack of Money, Not of Permits, Blocks Eaton Fire Recovery

Supervisor says 53% of survivors haven’t rebuilt because insurance payouts remain delayed

More than half of Eaton Fire survivors have yet to begin rebuilding their homes, and the barrier isn’t permitting delays — it’s a lack of capital from stalled insurance payouts, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger told two top Trump administration officials Tuesday.

Barger met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler to discuss recovery obstacles facing thousands of residents whose homes were destroyed when the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena and surrounding communities beginning January 7, 2025.

“Fifty-three percent of fire survivors have yet to take action on rebuilding — not because of permitting or regulatory delays, but because they lack the capital to move forward,” Barger said in a statement following the meeting. “Insurance payouts have been delayed, and many residents are still waiting for the funds they need to begin construction.”

The meeting came eight days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 27 directing federal agencies to identify state and local regulations for potential preemption, citing what the administration characterized as “bureaucratic red tape” slowing recovery efforts.

Barger pushed back against that characterization, telling the federal officials that Los Angeles County has reduced its permitting timeline to 31 business days for fire-related rebuilding projects.

“Our teams have been working around the clock to remove bureaucratic barriers,” Barger said. “I’m proud that we’ve been able to get our permitting timeline down to just 31 business days.”

The Eaton Fire destroyed more than 9,400 structures in Altadena and neighboring communities, according to Cal Fire, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles County history. The blaze killed at least 17 people.

Federal officials have signaled continued pressure on local and state governments to accelerate rebuilding. In a January op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times, Zeldin and Loeffler wrote that “the federal government is committed to cutting through the red tape that has historically delayed disaster recovery.”

The SBA has approved approximately $3.2 billion in disaster loans for survivors of the January fires, according to the agency.

But survivors and advocacy groups say the financial obstacles Barger described are real. A survey conducted by the Department of Angels, a disaster relief organization, found that 47% of fire survivors reported experiencing delays in receiving insurance claim payments.

“People want to rebuild, but they can’t start construction without money,” said Joy Chen, co-founder of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, in a previous interview. “The permitting process isn’t the holdup for most families — it’s waiting for insurance companies to pay what they owe.”

The Eaton Fire Survivors Network represents approximately 10,000 survivors affected by the blaze.

Barger said she would continue working with federal officials to address recovery challenges, but stressed that the County’s role in any delays has been overstated.

“We are doing everything in our power to help residents rebuild,” Barger said. “But we need our partners in the insurance industry to step up and do their part.”