President Donald Trump said in a Wednesday tweet that he is cutting off federal money to fight California wildfires, claiming the money is being wasted.
"Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forrest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen," Trump said. "Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!"
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, tweeted that Trump's "threat insults the memory of scores of Americans who perished in wildfires last year & thousands more who lost their homes."
Pelosi said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, another Californian, "must join me to condemn & call on POTUS to reassure millions in CA that our govt will be there for them in their time of need."
It's unclear whether Trump has already ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cut off money for California fires or is threatening to do so as he has in the past.
Critics on Twitter questioned whether Trump could legally withhold FEMA money that has already been appropriated.
State officials have accused Trump of playing politics with the California wildfires, and said he does not understand the issues involved in fighting fires.