Trump’s shutdown leaves California disaster readiness in jeopardy

What you need to know: Federal gridlock has forced disaster personnel furloughs and frozen critical funds, leaving Washington less prepared to support California communities facing historic fire threats.

SACRAMENTO - With the federal government shut down by Trump and Republicans, Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted one impact that could threaten the safety of communities across the state: disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

As of this morning, the Trump government shutdown has forced thousands of critical federal employees in California onto furlough and put key disaster recovery programs on pause. Wildfire crews and emergency responders remain on the front lines, but federal support for community preparedness, forest management and prescribed fires, and recovery grants is now frozen. These delays jeopardize California's ability to rebuild from past wildfires and prepare for new threats.

Communities across our state are less safe because of Trump's government shutdown. Thanks to Donald Trump, critical wildfire preparedness and disaster recovery programs are on pause. This can't go on - Republicans need to act to end this shutdown.

Governor Gavin Newsom

The National Weather Service continues to issue life-saving forecasts and warnings, but longer-term climate research and upgrades to forecasting tools have been suspended-at a time when California faces growing weather extremes. With vital administrative and planning staff sidelined, the state's progress on prevention will be delayed making our state more vulnerable.

FEMA's boots-on-the-ground teams are available thanks to their essential designation, but grants, reimbursements, and technical assistance for disaster recovery throughout California are delayed. Local communities counting on federal support to recover from fires, floods, and storms are now left in limbo.

California remains committed to protecting lives, property, and communities despite Washington's gridlock. But make no mistake-this shutdown is threatening the safety and resilience of every Californian, including:

• Wildfire crews (federal and state) remain deployed, but 25% of federal forest service staff-focused on prevention and planning-are furloughed.
• Key FEMA and DHS grants, including disaster reimbursement and mitigation funding, are paused until federal appropriations resume.
• The National Weather Service continues essential forecasting, while many research and support functions at NOAA are on hold.
• Delays in federal programs put planned prescribed burns, forest management projects, and community preparedness efforts on hold statewide.
• Over two-thirds of National Park Service staff-more than 9,000 nationwide-are now furloughed, leaving our national parks with only barebones emergency coverage. While some outdoor areas remain open, many visitor centers, facilities, and critical staff are offline, stretching the federal government's ability to respond to emergencies, wildfires, and rescues in California's most treasured landscapes.

CAL FIRE, Cal OES, CHP and the California National Guards stand ready to serve and protect the people, property and natural resources in California regardless of state or federal jurisdiction. CAL FIRE remains fully staffed and available during the fire year while the federal government shuts down, jeopardizing the safety and well being of all.

California's unprecedented wildfire readiness

As part of the state's ongoing investment in wildfire resilience and emergency response, CAL FIRE has significantly expanded its workforce over the past five years by adding an average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions annually - nearly double that of the previous administration. Over the next four years and beyond, CAL FIRE will be hiring thousands of additional firefighters, natural resource professionals, and support personnel to meet the state's growing demands.

In recent months, the Governor has announced millions of dollars in investments to protect communities from wildfire - with $135 million available for new and ongoing prevention projects and $72 million going out the door to projects across the state. This is part of over $5 billion the Newsom administration, in collaboration with the legislature, has invested in wildfire and forest resilience since 2019. Additionally, 103 new vegetation management projects spanning over 25,000 acres have already been fast-tracked to approval under the streamlined process provided by the Governor's March 2025 state of emergency proclamation.

This builds on consecutive years of intensive and focused work by California to confront the severe ongoing risk of catastrophic wildfires. New, bold moves to streamline state-level regulatory processes builds long-term efforts already underway in California to increase wildfire response and forest management in the face of a hotter, drier climate.

The state's efforts are in stark contrast to the Trump administration's dangerous cuts to the U.S. Forest Service, which also threatens the safety of communities across the state. The U.S. Forest Service has lost 10% of all positions and 25% of positions outside of direct wildfire response - both of which are likely to impact wildfire response this year. In recent weeks, the Trump administration proposed a massive reorganization that would shutter the Pacific Regional Forest Service office and other regional Forest Service offices across the West, compounding staff cuts and voluntary resignations across the agency.