STATEMENT: Rep. Friedman Blasts New Trump Admin Threats to Condition Aid

CALIFORNIA — Today, February 21, 2025, U.S. Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30) released the following statement blasting the Trump Administration and Richard Grenell for threatening to impose conditions on aid to California families desperately in need of relief: 

“The Trump admin wants to play politics with disaster relief. The reality is Californians give tens of billions more in federal taxes every year than any other state. We shouldn’t have to beg for help when we have residents who have lost everything. This is extortion, plain and simple,” said U.S. Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30). After Hurricane Ian, Florida got $3.9 billion in federal disaster aid— no strings attached. Why should Californians be treated differently? We power the nation’s economy and are just asking for our tax dollars back. Aid is a right, not a bargaining chip. Congress must reject this reckless precedent—disaster relief should never be political.”  

Friedman also called out the hypocrisy in withholding aid to Californians who paid $83 billion more in taxes than they received from the federal government. LA County residents alone paid more in taxes than every other state except for four.   

Friedman has consistently advocated against any conditions to federal aid. Examples can be found here and here. 

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