Check: Did Gavin Newsom Cut $100M in Fire Prevention Funding?

A social media claim suggests Governor Newsom slashed fire prevention funding by $100 million. But what does the evidence say?

Amid California’s devastating wildfires, which have caused numerous fatalities and billions in damages, some social media users have accused Governor Gavin Newsom of slashing funding for fire prevention. Posts, including one by Fox News, claim Newsom reduced fire prevention funding by approximately $100 million just months before the Los Angeles fires. These claims draw from a January 10 article in Newsweek, which reported that Newsom signed a budget in June cutting $101 million from wildfire and forest resilience funding.

However, Newsom has dismissed the claim, calling it a “ridiculous lie.” On his new website, California Fire Facts, Newsom highlighted the overall increase in funding for California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) under his administration. While it is true that Cal Fire's budget has grown, the accusation of a $100 million cut has some basis in fact.

Fire Department Budget Overview

California’s budget surplus in 2021 and 2022 enabled the state to allocate an additional $16.3 billion to address issues such as wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat. Of this, $2.8 billion was earmarked for wildfire management and forest health. However, due to budget deficits in 2023 and 2024, the state reduced wildfire funding by $191 million—$47 million in 2023 and $144 million in 2024.

For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Cal Fire is slated to receive a budget of approximately $4.2 billion, primarily funded by the state, with additional support from local and federal reimbursements. Despite the reductions, the funding is substantial, and the cuts mainly target one-time allocations for specific wildfire resilience projects rather than Cal Fire’s ongoing base funding.

The $101 Million Cut

The $101 million figure comes from the proposed 2024-2025 state budget, which sought to reduce planned one-time funding for wildfire prevention programs. According to Rachel Ehlers of the Legislative Analyst’s Office, these cuts were part of a multiyear agreement to allocate surplus funds from 2020 to 2024. The reductions targeted various programs, including a $46 million pilot project aimed at creating hydrogen from biomass, which never materialized. Other cuts included $35 million for wildfire resilience projects on state-owned land and $28 million for projects managed by state conservancies.

Although some cuts were small percentages—such as a half-percent reduction in the forest health program—others, like the pilot project, represented significant decreases. However, fire prevention grants and projects remained unchanged, with $475 million allocated for fire prevention grants and $90 million for fire prevention projects.

Newsom’s Budget Record

While the reductions may seem concerning, it’s important to note that Cal Fire’s overall budget has seen substantial growth during Newsom’s tenure. From 2014-2015 to 2023-2024, Cal Fire’s budget for wildfire protection has nearly tripled, growing from $1.1 billion to $3 billion. Overall, the department’s budget for fire protection, emergency suppression, resource management, and fire prevention more than doubled during the same period, increasing from $1.7 billion to $3.7 billion.

Additionally, the number of staff members working in fire prevention has grown significantly, from 5,756 to 10,275 employees over the past decade.

Voter Support for Fire Prevention

In November, California voters approved Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond that includes $1.5 billion for forest health and wildfire prevention. This investment further supports the state’s ongoing commitment to wildfire management.

While it’s clear that there have been budget reductions for certain wildfire-related programs, it’s equally clear that the state continues to prioritize fire prevention, with Cal Fire's budget and staffing levels increasing overall. The accusation of a $100 million cut is based on a narrow reading of the budget, and the full context reveals a more complex picture of California’s fire prevention efforts under Governor Newsom.