05/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/23/2026 16:45
Garden Grove, CA - Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) is urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to submit a request to President Trump for a federal disaster declaration in preparation for a potential catastrophic incident at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, California, known as the "Western Incident."
Read the full letter HERE .
Requests to the White House for a federal disaster declaration must originate from the Governor's office. Representative Tran is urging Governor Newsom to request the federal disaster declaration in order to activate the full capacity of the federal government's support, including assets from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
First responders have successfully stabilized two tanks of hazardous methyl methacrylate at the GKN Aerospace facility, but the remaining tank still poses an imminent threat of leakage or explosion. More than 40,000 residents and businesses have been evacuated due to the chemical's extreme flammability and acute risks to the respiratory system, eyes, and skin, compounding fears over unknown long-term health impacts.
Representative Tran is working with local, state, and federal authorities to ensure that residents are safe and that every solution is exhausted to mitigate the risk of a chemical leak or explosion.
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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.