On January 29, 2025, President Trump took to social media on Monday night to announce that the US military, under his orders, had initiated the water supply in California to tackle the devastating wildfires affecting Los Angeles and Southern California, despite objections from California government officials.
” The US military has just entered the great state of California and, under emergency powers, has opened up the abundant water flowing from the Pacific Northwest and other areas,” Trump posted on the Truth Social platform. “The days of putting false environmental arguments ahead of the people are over. Enjoy the water, California!!!”
In response to Trump’s statement, California government officials stated that the federal government had reactivated federal water pump facilities in Northern California, while also emphasizing that Southern California’s water resources were still sufficient.
The California Department of Water Resources released a statement on X social platform around 1 am on Tuesday, saying, “The military did not enter California. The federal government reactivated federal pumps that had been shut down for maintenance for three days. Southern California’s state water supply remains sufficient.”
The statement also included a photo of canal water being used for crop irrigation, which is common in the Central Valley.
Since taking office last week, President Trump has signed multiple executive orders addressing wildfire management and water resource issues in California. Previously, he criticized California officials and Governor Newsom for their ineffective response to the devastating wildfires in Northern Los Angeles.
In one of Trump’s orders last week, he wrote, “The recent deadly and historically destructive wildfires in Southern California highlight why California needs a reliable water supply and proper vegetation management measures to provide much-needed water resources to the region and why this plan must be immediately reinstituted.”
In media comments and statements posted on the White House website, Trump also mentioned the drying up of fire hydrants in Los Angeles during peak wildfire periods. Former President Joe Biden confirmed on January 9 that deliberate power station shutdowns during high winds led to water shortages, potentially exacerbating fire spread.
President Trump on Sunday ordered the federal government to bypass California’s water management measures to bolster firefighting efforts. He instructed the US Bureau of Reclamation to provide more water resources and hydroelectric power through the Central Valley Project – a network consisting of dams, canals, and other infrastructure.
Trump’s order also directed the White House Office of Management and Budget to assess whether federal aid to California could be conditioned to ensure compliance. He stated in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that if California fails to cooperate with requirements regarding opening water resources and implementing voter ID laws, he might suspend federal aid to the state.
In response, California Governor Newsom, a long-time critic of Trump, refuted Trump’s statements regarding California’s water resources.
Last weekend, Trump visited Los Angeles and met with Mayor Karen Bass and other officials. He expressed surprise at the extent of the devastation in Los Angeles, calling it a “catastrophic disaster,” saying, “It’s just unbelievable, it’s like a cremation.”
During the meeting, Trump and Bass clashed over whether residents, including those in the Pacific Palisades area, should be allowed to return home. The President insisted on immediately allowing evacuees to return home.
At a press conference on Monday, Bass told reporters that after the evacuation order was lifted, she would permit all residents of the Pacific Palisades to return home.