Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday announced a new executive order aimed at accelerating post-wildfire construction as local, state and federal leaders marked six months since twin firestorms devastated both the Palisades and Altadena regions, destroying thousands of homes and upending entire communities.
Speaking at Pasadena City College, Newsom said the order will support “like-for-like” reconstruction by easing building codes and fast-tracking permits. The move comes as local officials warn of mounting frustration among residents unable to rebuild due to cost, permitting delays and insurance gaps.
“We need to do more and we need to be better,” he said. “The anxiety that renters and homeowners feel is very real. If you are going to come back home, you want to know that the infrastructure is ready, the costs are manageable and the paperwork doesn’t drag on forever.”
Newsom said state and federal teams had already completed debris removal on more than 12,000 destroyed homes across the burn scars, calling the six-month cleanup timeline the fastest in California history. The second phase of removal began just 30 days after the fire broke out, aided by full federal reimbursement and a high rate of public opt-ins to the government-led clearance process.
The governor credited that speed in part to early engagement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Army Corps of Engineers and the Biden administration and pointed to a “historic” level of interagency cooperation.
Construction, however, remains a sticking point. While some rebuilding has begun in the Palisades, officials say many families remain stalled by design requirements, lack of approved contractors and a workforce stretched too thin.
“We’re now entering the next phase,” Newsom said. “It is critical that we maintain the same mindset and deliberative focus. And part of that means embracing new tools.”
One of those tools, he said, is a new AI-powered permitting system being jointly rolled out by Los Angeles city and county later this week. The platform, still under wraps, is expected to streamline approvals and help deliver on the long-promised “one-stop shop” for fire survivors trying to rebuild.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said her team is already implementing a six-pillar recovery blueprint, which includes deferring county permit fees for homeowners in unincorporated areas, scaling up the supply of builders and materials, and undergrounding more than 150 miles of utility lines.
“County permit fees can exceed $20,000,” Barger said. “That is a significant obstacle. I am confident we will identify permanent funding solutions to waive these costs, but that burden should not fall on the survivors.”
State officials also pledged to address lingering insurance concerns and infrastructure gaps, particularly in neighborhoods where residents worry they may rebuild alone. Newsom referenced conversations with those who have secured permits but remain anxious their neighbors may not return.
“There is a sense of loss beyond just homes,” he said. “It’s the memories, the photos, the places that made these communities whole. Rebuilding a house is one thing, but rebuilding a neighborhood is something else entirely.”
Senator Alex Padilla echoed that sentiment, warning that while cleanup efforts had been swift, much more remains to be done. He also raised concern that the federal aid process could soon be politicized, especially as peak fire season looms.
“This is absolutely not the time to threaten FEMA or eliminate FEMA,” Padilla said. “Natural disasters do not discriminate. Californians have risen up to help one another and we have always stood for other states in their time of need.”
Padilla said 150 National Guard troops were being returned to California fire prevention efforts this month but stressed that all such resources were needed. His remarks came after a string of speakers criticized recent comments by former President Donald Trump, who reportedly threatened to withhold FEMA funds from California and suggested using disaster relief as leverage to demand unrelated state policy changes.
“We’ve never voted against hurricane aid because we didn’t like another state’s abortion laws,” said Representative Brad Sherman. “That’s not how this country works.”
Congresswoman Judy Chu, whose district includes Altadena and Pasadena, said she continued to push for FEMA to fully deploy the direct lease program and called on Congress to pass a $40 billion disaster aid package without conditions. “This funding is critical,” Chu said. “It must come with no strings attached.”
Throughout the event, speakers highlighted the scale of the disaster, with over 9,000 structures lost, 20,000 people displaced and at least 30 lives claimed. Officials said recovery had now shifted firmly into the rebuilding phase, with 640 plan check applications already submitted in the Palisades alone.
Deputy LA Mayor Rachel Freeman said community resilience had played a key role in the response, but warned that the work is far from over.
“Losing a home is not just about property,” she said. “It’s about belonging. It’s about security. Our job now is to make sure people have everything they need to come back.”
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the state’s first partner, closed the event with a call to maintain the optimism and unity that marked the state’s response so far. “When we come together and keep looking to the future,” she said, “nothing will stop us.”
scott.snowden@smdp.com