**Schiff Urges Reinstatement of FEMA Grants for California Earthquake Retrofits**
The Trump administration’s decision to cancel $33 million in federal funding earmarked for earthquake retrofitting in California has sparked strong opposition from lawmakers and public safety advocates. The move has raised concerns about the state’s preparedness for future seismic events.
Senator Adam Schiff expressed “grave concern” over the decision and has formally appealed to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to reverse it. In a letter to Noem, Schiff emphasized the critical nature of the funding, which was originally approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under Noem’s department.
“The cancellation of this program includes the cancellation of $33 million in funding that could have enabled the retrofit of between 750 and 1,500 multifamily buildings,” Schiff wrote. He added that reinstating the federal grants would allow Californians to make “the necessary investments to prepare their homes and housing units for the next major earthquake before it hits.”
The grants were aimed at retrofitting so-called “soft story” apartment buildings, which have been shown to be particularly vulnerable during seismic events. These types of structures were responsible for numerous casualties during the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes, when pancaked buildings trapped and killed residents.
Originally featured in the Los Angeles Times, the report underscores the urgency surrounding California’s aging infrastructure and the need for preemptive measures. The canceled funds would have played a key role in bolstering the structural resilience of at-risk communities across the state.
As California remains one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the country, the debate over disaster readiness and federal support continues to intensify.
