WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has warned that he may withhold wildfire assistance from California unless the state adjusts its water distribution policies to benefit the southern region. He also indicated plans for potential changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In an interview with Sean Hannity on Wednesday evening, Trump referred to an executive order he had signed earlier that week, which mandated California to redirect water from the northern areas of the state. He expressed his belief that federal funding should be withheld until changes are made.

“I don’t think we should give California anything until they allow water to flow down there,” he remarked. “It’s a political situation; I’m not sure what’s driving it.”

Last year, during the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump similarly warned a halt to wildfire relief for California if Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, did not adjust policies related to a protected small fish species known as the smelt.

In response, Newsom’s office has pushed back against the president’s claims, stating that California’s fish protection measures in the north do not cause water shortages for urban fire hydrants.

“The only thing fishy are Trump’s claims,” a January 21 post from the governor’s office said on X. “California is currently pumping as much water as permitted under previous Trump-era rules, and there is no water scarcity in Southern California.”

These comments come ahead of Trump’s first trip away from Washington since reclaiming the presidency, during which he intends to visit areas impacted by storms in North Carolina and wildfires in California. It remains uncertain if he will meet Governor Newsom during his visit, as Newsom requested in a letter for Trump to come.

“We are pleased that President Trump accepted the Governor’s invitation to visit Los Angeles,” said Brandon Richards, a spokesperson for Newsom, in an email.

In the same interview, Trump also criticized FEMA, the agency responsible for disaster management in the country. He suggested that he intends to push for reforms that would place more financial responsibility on individual states.

“But without the right leadership, things can become complicated,” Trump commented. “FEMA is going to be a major topic of discussion soon because I believe states should manage their own challenges.”

The White House has not yet responded to requests for further details on the reforms Trump envisions for the agency.