Newsom and Bass Face Criticism Over Firefighting Budget Cuts

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As devastating wildfires ravaged Los Angeles in January 2025, killing at least 24 people and destroying over 12,000 structures, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have faced intense scrutiny for recent cuts to firefighting and emergency service budgets. Critics, including President-elect Donald Trump and local officials, argue that these reductions hampered the response to the fires, exacerbating the destruction caused by unprecedented winds and dry conditions. While both leaders defend their actions, citing overall budget increases and external factors, the controversy has sparked a broader debate about resource allocation and preparedness in a fire-prone state. The 2024-25 California state budget, signed by Newsom in June 2024, reduced funding for wildfire and forest resilience programs by $101 million, according to the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office. This included a $46 million cut to a pilot project for hydrogen production from biomass, $35 million from wildfire resilience on state-owned land, and $28 million from state conservancy projects. These reductions came amid a $55 billion state budget deficit, though Cal Fire’s overall budget has nearly tripled since 2014, rising from $1.1 billion to $3 billion in 2023, with personnel increasing from 5,829 to 10,741 since 2019. Newsom’s office emphasized these increases, calling claims of slashed budgets a “ridiculous lie” and noting a $10 billion climate bond approved in November 2024, allocating $1.5 billion for forest health and wildfires.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Bass approved a 2024-25 city budget that cut the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) by $17.6 million, a 2.7% reduction from the previous year’s $837.2 million allocation. LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley warned in a December 2024 memo that the cuts, including a $7 million reduction in overtime staffing, “severely limited” the department’s capacity to prepare for and respond to large-scale emergencies like wildfires. The elimination of vacant civilian positions, such as mechanics, left 100 fire apparatuses out of service, further straining resources. Critics, including City Controller Kenneth Mejia, called the cuts “disgraceful,” especially as the Los Angeles Police Department received a $125.9 million budget increase. However, Bass and the City Council later approved $53 million in firefighter pay raises and $58 million for new equipment, technically increasing the LAFD’s operating budget. Bass maintains that the cuts did not impact the response to the fires, citing extreme 100 mph winds as the primary challenge.

The fires exposed additional issues, such as water shortages for firefighting. Newsom ordered an investigation into the loss of water pressure in fire hydrants and the closure of the Santa Ynez Reservoir for repairs, which was unavailable during the Palisades Fire. Bass faced criticism for being in Ghana when the fires began, though she defended her communication during the trip.

Critics, including Trump and Assemblymember Bill Essayli, argue that the budget cuts and mismanagement left California unprepared. Newsom and Bass counter that long-term investments and external factors like wind and infrastructure limitations were decisive. As recovery efforts continue, with Newsom allocating $2.5 billion for fire relief, the debate over budget priorities and emergency preparedness remains heated.

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