California agencies fought fires on federal land. Now Trump won’t pay in full
The US Forest Service audited the reimbursement sent by the state and is withholding $9m, saying they needed more documentation
As California prepares to enter wildfire season, the Trump administration is holding back millions of dollars in requested reimbursement to local fire agencies for battling wildfires on federal lands last year.
After the most destructive and expensive season on record, California issued a $72m reimbursement request for local firefighting efforts on federal lands. Rather than reimburse the local agencies in full, the US forest service audited the agreement that made this exchange possible and is now withholding $9m.