California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has distributed approximately $24 million through a tribal wildfire resilience program since 2023, but critics question whether all funds directly address fire prevention.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) established the “Tribal Wildfire Resilience” program under the oversight of California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. The initiative aims to support Native American tribes in land management and wildfire prevention efforts.
Grant records reviewed by critics show some funding appears loosely connected to wildfire mitigation. Awards include $1 million for forest-themed restaurant ingredients, $599,000 for a summer camp renovation, $166,000 for spotted owl monitoring, $746,000 for food sovereignty initiatives, and $521,000 for tribal members to maintain relationships with natural elements.
Questions About Program Scope
The program has expanded beyond its original fire-prevention focus, according to observers who question whether expenditures align with wildfire resilience goals. Some grants fund cultural burning practices, where tribes use traditional fire methods to clear brush and preserve ecological relationships.
California projected that tribes would conduct 25,000 acres of prescribed burning annually by 2025, but the state has not released progress data. Tribal leaders have indicated prescribed burns remain deliberately small in scale.
Broader Relief Fund Concerns
The scrutiny of tribal program spending coincides with investigations into Newsom’s $2.5 billion wildfire relief package announced after the January 2025 Los Angeles Palisades fire. State records show approximately 60 percent of the fund remains unspent, according to reports from local news outlets.
Of the $605 million expended to date, much went to state agencies for fire response tasks rather than direct victim compensation. The LA City and County fire departments received $37 million in reimbursements, while the California Highway Patrol received nearly $21 million for road closures and security in fire zones.
Victims of the deadly Palisades fire continue awaiting direct state compensation for losses sustained during the January 2025 incident.
This story has been updated. CNN’s reporting team contributed to this report.
