Trump orders agencies to override CA policies that 'unduly burden' water delivery

President Trump is not a fan of California's water policies. He seems to think that without them, the devastating wildfires in the state would have been able to have been controlled much sooner.

As a result, Trump is directing his government agencies to override California's water policies as needed. In his order, Trump slammed the state's handling of Los Angeles' water supply as the city burned recently.

"Firefighters were unable to fight the blaze due to dry hydrants, empty reservoirs, and inadequate water infrastructure," Trump's executive order stated. "It is in the Nation’s interest to ensure that California has what it needs to prevent and fight these fires and others in the future."

According to TheHill.com, Trump wrote that "'it is the policy of the United States to provide Southern California with necessary water resources,' the order directed federal officials to 'immediately take actions to override existing activities that unduly burden efforts to maximize water deliveries.'"

Trump has been so upset about the handling of California's water supply that he even called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign earlier in January 2025, accusing Newsom of "failing to sign a declaration that would have 'allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way.'"

Newsom has not resigned, and his office called the accusations "pure fiction."