President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday titled “Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas,” aimed at supporting firefighters battling devastating wildfires in Southern California.
The fires, which have raged since the beginning of the year, have claimed at least 28 lives and destroyed thousands of structures.
The executive order mandates that several federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, and Homeland Security, take swift action to ensure adequate water resources are available for firefighting efforts. These agencies must report back to the president within 15 days with an assessment of all applicable authorities, including emergency measures, to bolster firefighting and disaster response efforts.
Maximizing Water Deliveries
The order directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to prioritize actions that eliminate obstacles to maximizing water deliveries in the region. This includes overriding activities that may hinder water resource management, as outlined in the Final Environmental Impact Statement issued in November 2024 by the Bureau of Reclamation regarding the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project.
Under the directive, the Bureau of Reclamation has been tasked with increasing water storage, hydropower production, and conveyance to high-need communities, overriding conflicting state or local laws if necessary.
Trump celebrated the measure on social media, stating, “The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!”

Firefighting Progress and Disaster Recovery Plans
As of Tuesday, several major fires in the region are nearing full containment. The Palisades Fire, which burned over 23,000 acres, is 95% contained, while the Eaton Fire, which consumed 14,000 acres, is 99% contained. The Hughes Fire, which erupted on January 22 and burned more than 10,000 acres, is now 98% contained.
The order also emphasizes the need for expedited disaster recovery. It directs the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Homeland Security to develop an Integrated Federal Housing Strategy and Implementation Plan to address the housing needs of wildfire survivors. This plan is expected within five days of the order’s signing.
Additionally, contaminated debris from the wildfires will be removed, and unused federal preparedness grants allocated to Los Angeles—totaling $213 million since fiscal year 2021—will be reassessed and utilized. The executive order specifies that these funds must not support individuals residing in the country illegally.
Criticism from California Officials
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesperson, Tara Gallegos, criticized the president’s claims about water availability. She told Reuters, “Trump is either unaware of how water is stored in California or is deliberately misleading the public. There is no imaginary spigot to magically make water appear at a wildfire, despite what Trump claims.”
The executive order underscores the administration’s focus on prioritizing water management and disaster response in Southern California, with the goal of ensuring a swift recovery for the affected regions.