Trump signs executive order to bypass California permits for LA wildfire rebuild

President Trump signed an executive order on January 27, 2026, directing FEMA and the SBA to issue regulations preempting California state and local permitting requirements for wildfire rebuilding. The order authorized builders to self-certify compliance with state building standards and directed agencies to expedite waivers under NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, and the Historic Preservation Act. Mayor Karen Bass responded that the president had no authority over local permitting and that delays in FEMA funding, not permits, were the primary obstacle to rebuilding.