GOP Proposes Linking California Wildfire Aid to Debt Ceiling Increase

Republican lawmakers suggest conditioning disaster relief on debt limit negotiations, sparking bipartisan backlash over potential precedent.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders propose tying California wildfire aid to raising the federal debt ceiling, citing concerns about state policies.
Republicans argue that attaching conditions to disaster relief could incentivize bipartisan support for the debt limit increase, which faces internal GOP resistance.
Democrats and some Republicans warn against setting a partisan precedent for disaster aid, emphasizing the need for consistent, unconditional federal assistance.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democrats reject the proposal, defending the state's policies and criticizing the GOP for politicizing emergency relief.
The Los Angeles wildfires have claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed thousands of properties, with federal emergency funds already allocated for immediate response efforts.