We’ve reported on how President Donald Trump is tired of watching California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass fail to speed up rebuilding efforts following the disastrous — and preventable — wildfires that burned down huge sections of the communities of Pacific Palisades and Altadena in early 2025. In late January, he issued an executive order aimed at fast-tracking rebuilding permits and getting the stalled effort moving.

Although the fires destroyed an estimated 16,000 structures, only around 2,600 permits have been issued so far. As of early January, fewer than a dozen homes had been rebuilt. That, readers, is what is known as an epic failure.

Trump appointed Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin as his point man, and on Wednesday, Zeldin will be bringing the heat to LA:

Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator appointed by President Donald Trump to enforce a bypass on local permitting red tape, will be in Los Angeles on Wednesday to meet with Mayor Karen Bass, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and other city officials responsible for the permitting process.

“It’s essential that we hear directly from them and the public about what they believe is working, what isn’t, and how we can accelerate the rebuilding process,” Zeldin told The California Post.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is cheering him on:

Go Lee, Go!

"Federal boots are hitting the ground this week to speed up the rebuilding process for thousands of Los Angeles families displaced by last year’s devastating wildfires."https://t.co/krzSlyEmdH

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 2, 2026

MORE: LA-Area Fire Chief Mops the Floor With Mayor Karen Bass Over Disastrous Wildfire Response

Trump Tired of California Failure Theater, Issues Order for Administration to Take Over LA Fire Rebuild

Rebuilding efforts don’t need to produce results at Newsom-Bass speed, Zeldin told Fox News — they need to move at Trump speed:

.@epaleezeldin on rebuilding homes in L.A.: To be here one year later, and people still haven't been able to rebuild their lives, @POTUS' patience has been worn thin... he's ready to blaze through whatever obstacles are left on the ground locally. pic.twitter.com/2buK27U7f7

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 2, 2026

Zeldin:

This needs to move at Trump speed. The debris removal was moving that quickly when President Trump was first sworn in office. He brought EPA in, we completed our phase one hazardous material removal in less than 30 days. President Trump gave us 30 days to get it done.

People said it was impossible, but we managed to get that mission accomplished.

The administration’s frustration with the failure of California leaders to get anything done is growing increasingly high, Zeldin continued:

We're going to see how to implement Trump's speed more on the ground, working with the locals. 

The federal model worked in the immediate days and weeks after President Trump was sworn in office, but, gosh, to be here one year later, after the one-year anniversary, and so many people still haven't been able to rebuild their lives. President Trump's frustration is high, his patience has been worn thin a long time ago. 

He’s heard from these local residents and businesses, and he's ready to blaze through whatever obstacles are left there on the ground locally.

If there’s anything Trump knows how to do, it’s build things. California has suffered tremendously under the ineptitude of Bass and Newsom, and now it’s time for Trump and Zeldin to get things moving.

Step aside, Gavin and Karen. You had your turn, and you didn't deliver.

Editor's Note: Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass, and the “progressives” are ruining California.

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