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Still no clarity on Trump's threat to cut off aid to Calif. fire victims

WASHINGTON — Members of the California congressional delegation say they still have no idea whether President Donald Trump will follow through on his threat to cut off federal disaster funding to the state.

Representatives of the White House and Federal Emergency Management Agency have not responded to daily requests from the Los Angeles Times for clarification of whether funds are being cut off for California as thousands of people recover from the worst fire in state history, and what precedent or legal authority there might for such a move.

Trump said on Twitter last week that he ordered FEMA not to send more disaster funding to state officials “unless they get their act together, which is unlikely.” Trump is pushing the state to allow more logging and timber sales. He says that will reduce the risk of forest fires, though experts disagree.

Trump’s post sent shock waves through the communities still recovering from two major fires that killed 89 people and burned more than 15,000 structures, with state and local lawmakers of both parties expressing outrage and concern.

More than a dozen members of California’s congressional delegation, all Democrats except for Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa, met Thursday to compare notes and discuss how to respond.

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