Payam Javan: California Governor Gavin Newsom met with President Donald Trump and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington on February 5 to discuss federal assistance for wildfire recovery efforts. Newsom expressed gratitude for the administration’s collaboration, particularly highlighting the swift response from the Environmental Protection Agency, which deployed 1,000 personnel to aid in debris removal. The governor emphasized California’s history of supporting other states in times of crisis and called for similar aid to help affected families rebuild.

Following the meeting, Newsom described the discussions as “very productive,” thanking the president for his commitment to working with the state on recovery efforts. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the president’s willingness to collaborate across party lines to serve the American people. Meanwhile, Newsom announced a new executive order aimed at strengthening California’s wildfire prevention strategies, underscoring the growing risks posed by extreme weather and aging infrastructure.

The executive order mandates increased fire prevention measures, including the creation of “ember-resistant” zones around homes in high-risk areas and the expansion of fire danger zones to improve safety regulations. Additionally, Cal Fire will classify 1.4 million more acres under its highest fire danger tiers, leading to stricter building codes in affected regions. State and local firefighting agencies have also been directed to enhance cooperation with federal authorities to bolster disaster response efforts.