Approximately 11,000 homes and an unknown number of businesses and many other things like churches and structures were lost in the Palisades and Eaton fires in the Los Angeles city and counties this January.

If the fires of 2018 are any guide, those who lost their homes are looking at a long and winding road to return to them—if ever. 

Governor Newsom has asked Trump for $40 billion in relief funds. The president and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum ought to say no to that and instead seek from Congress in the budget and reconciliation process underway, say, half of the $40 billion amount requested.

But, a Congress that provides aid should also demand and express in detailed language a preemption of all state, regional and local regulations governing the burn area of these fires. Goodbye to the commissars of the Coastal Commission and the other bureaucrats! The legislation ought to vest sole land use authority over those areas in the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary of the Interior.

I have more details on this in my column over at FoxNews.com.

It’s an opportunity for Donald Trump that could make California golden again.