Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R) expressed gratitude Friday for President Trump’s meeting with her and Mayor Karen Bass (D) on wildfire recovery, but warned that other states are also queuing for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. Speaking to CNN’s Elex Michaelson, Barger revealed that lawmakers on Capitol Hill had briefed her Thursday about concurrent natural disasters in North Carolina, Florida, and Texas.
“It’s important for us to recognize that they’re also standing in line waiting for assistance,” Barger said. “So my goal, and I made this clear to everyone on the hill that I met with, is not to leave other states behind. It’s important for us to speak with one voice. We’re all asking for FEMA reimbursement, which is something that’s in the books.”
Barger acknowledged there was “heavy lifting” ahead, and noted that Trump had recognized ongoing issues with fire rebuilding permits. The president signed an executive order in January to accelerate home reconstruction in Pacific Palisades and Altadena—the communities hardest hit by the Palisades and Eaton fires in January 2025. The move aligns with broader administration efforts to streamline disaster recovery, though tensions remain over funding priorities.
When pressed on the dynamics between Bass and Trump—who have traded barbs over federal immigration enforcement in Los Angeles—Barger framed the meeting as nonpartisan. “It was not Republican [versus] Democrat, it was about representatives there to talk about a disaster that occurred,” she said. “He came out, he saw it firsthand. His concern was, ‘Are you going to help the survivors rebuild?’ And the answer is yes.”
According to Barger, Trump inquired about rebuilding damaged utilities and water infrastructure, and wanted to know what measures were being taken to prevent future fires. She did not specify when FEMA funds would flow for wildfire recovery, leaving a key question unanswered for affected residents.
On Truth Social, Trump praised the meeting and shared photos of himself with Bass and Barger in the Oval Office. He also criticized State Farm and other insurers for what he called inadequate claims handling. “The Banks, however, have a long way to go, and we will be looking into their actions, effective immediately,” Trump wrote Thursday. “Wells Fargo, in particular, has been very difficult to deal with. The Banks must treat those people, who so horribly lost their Homes in this tragic fire, very fairly and well.”
Barger, the sole Republican on the five-woman board chaired by Hilda Solis (D), represents the 5th District—Los Angeles County’s largest, encompassing parts of the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. The Eaton fire scorched portions of her district, adding local urgency to the recovery push.
The Palisades and Eaton fires together consumed over 37,000 acres, claimed 31 lives, and destroyed 13,000 homes and residential properties, according to NASA data. California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom (D), have pressed the Trump administration to release $33.9 billion in FEMA funds for rebuilding schools, homes, utilities, and other infrastructure wrecked by the blazes. The request comes amid a broader debate over federal disaster aid, as other states also seek relief from recent hurricanes and wildfires.
Barger’s remarks underscore the competitive landscape for FEMA resources, even as Trump’s executive order aims to cut red tape for rebuilding. The administration’s stance on immigration enforcement has also strained relations with California leaders, but this week’s meeting suggested a temporary truce focused on recovery. Whether that cooperation holds remains uncertain, especially as the White House weighs additional conditions on disaster funding.
