Trump seeks to circumvent laws on California's water amid wildfire response
Trump has signed an executive order seeking to circumvent federal and state laws dealing with California's water system in an effort to provide the southern part of the state with necessary water resources to fight wildfires.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to circumvent federal and state laws dealing with California's water system in an effort to provide the southern part of the state with necessary water resources to fight wildfires.
Almost immediately after the onset of the recent spate of wildfires in Los Angeles, "firefighters were unable to fight the blaze due to dry hydrants, empty reservoirs, and inadequate water infrastructure," the executive order said.
Trump's order said the wildfire disaster has affected the entire country and it's in the nation's "interest to ensure that California has what it needs to prevent and fight these fires and others in the future."
"Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to provide Southern California with necessary water resources, notwithstanding actively harmful State or local policies," the order said.
The order calls for "overriding disastrous California policies" and directs the heads of the departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, Commerce, Interior and Agriculture to take measures to ensure Southern California has adequate water resources.
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