Trump threatens to stop funds for California fires

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to tell the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) not to send any more money to the state of California for forest fires, blaming the problem on mismanagement.

"Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen. Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!" Trump tweeted.

State officials have criticized Trump's remarks when it comes to California's wildfires, accusing him of playing politics with natural disasters and saying he does not have proper understanding of wildfire prevention and response efforts.

"Trump's go-to is governing by fear and division," California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted after the president's shutdown speech Tuesday night.

It is unclear whether the president has already made the order to cut funding to FEMA or if he is making a threat, something that he has done in the past.

"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!" Trump tweeted in November.

The remarks by Trump comes amid a partial government shutdown, which is already affecting some of FEMA's operations.