This executive order recounts the destruction of homes and businesses in the Los Angeles area due to wildfires and the fact that the federal government has completed hazardous material sweeps and cleared more than 9,500 properties of debris in six months, but that homeowners and businesses continue to experience delays by state and local governments in permitting and rebuilding. It recites that the federal government has approved numerous relief claims to provide financial support to homeowners and business owners to aid in the repair and rebuilding of homes and businesses. In order to carry out federally funded reconstruction projects for homes and businesses in the wildfire impacted areas of Los Angeles, the executive order directs the secretary of homeland security, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to consider promulgating regulations to (a) preempt state or local permitting processes and (b) replace preempted state or local permitting regimes with a requirement that builders self-certify to a federal designee that they have complied with substantive state and local health and safety standards. The order also directs the secretary of homeland security and the administrator of the SBA to publish proposed regulations to carry out these objectives.
News | January 23, 2026