… In an interview aired Wednesday night, Trump said he may withhold aid to California until the state adjusts how it manages its scarce water resources. He falsely claimed that California’s fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state are responsible for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas. … Several California representatives agreed that the federal government must guard against the misuse of funds but argued that the money should not be held up or saddled with restrictions not placed on other states after tornadoes and hurricanes. The dilemma played out in social media posts by Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, who narrowly prevailed in November in his swing district east of Los Angeles. “Californians are entitled to receive federal disaster assistance in the same manner as all Americans,” he wrote on X. But, he quickly added, “Some federal policy changes may be needed to expedite rebuilding as well as improve future wildfire prevention. Those kind of policies are not conditions.”

Related articles:

• The Washington Post: Trump says a ‘valve’ can solve California’s water woes. Experts say it’s not true.
• San Francisco Chronicle: ‘A salmon extinction plan’: How Trump’s executive orders on climate could impact California
• Eureka Times Standard: Advocacy groups concerned about ‘people over salmon’ executive order
• KRCR (Chico, Calif.): Leaders in the Northstate respond to Trump’s water order, with conflicting points of view
• KRCR: Debate over Trump’s water order: farmers cheer, environmentalists express concern
• San Joaquin Valley Sun: Valley water players praise Trump’s “People over Fish” order
• The Associated Press: Cracks emerge in House GOP after speaker’s threat to saddle California wildfire aid with conditions
• The Hill: Trump doubles down on threat to withhold California wildfire aid
• American Rivers: Blog: How do President Trump’s executive orders impact your clean water?
• E&E News by POLITICO: Trump scraps Clinton-era environmental justice order
• CalMatters:  Commentary: Trump jumps back into California’s water wars with a pro-farmer decree