Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
California wildfire aidremains in limbo as the Senate moves toward a vote to avoid a government shutdown.
Why it matters: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested $40 billion to deal with the fallout from the climate-fueled fires that scorched the Los Angeles area in January. But federal aid was left out of the House GOP's CR.
Driving the news: House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole said Tuesday that lawmakers are awaiting a formal Trump administration request to move an aid package.
"I don't find it unreasonable," he said of California's $40 billion request, noting that he's met with Newsom.
Trump has sought to link the money to policy conditions, but it's unclear what that would look like.
"These are people that have been involved in a legitimate disaster. They deserve federal help," Cole told reporters. "There may be some conditions attached to that. That's not unusual."
What's next: The House passed the CR on Tuesday in a largely party-line vote ahead of the funding deadline Friday.
At least eight Senate Democrats will likely need to vote for it to avert a shutdown.
