Rep. Nunn says disaster aid should be conditional for California

Strings for thee, but not for me. The deadly Los Angeles blazes have upended lives and destroyed thousands of acres. To the calls for federal aid, US Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa went on TV saying he wants to make disaster aid conditional. This less than a year after the Biden Administration extended unconditional aid to his district.

Just months after advocating for swift, unconditional federal assistance following devastating tornadoes in Iowa, Rep. Zach Nunn is now suggesting that federal disaster aid to California should come with strings attached.

In a January 13 appearance on CNN’s “The Source,” Nunn called for conditions on California’s disaster relief, arguing that the state needs to take responsibility for “forest management and water management.” This stance stands in marked contrast to his position on federal aid following the violent multi-vortex tornado that struck communities like Greenfield in 2024.

After Iowa’s severe weather, Nunn actively participated in relief efforts, touring damaged areas and advocating for immediate federal assistance. Following the destructive Greenfield tornado in May 2024, which caused five fatalities and left widespread destruction across southwestern Iowa, Nunn emphasized the importance of helping communities regardless of political affiliation.

“For the thousands of Americans who lost their homes, it doesn’t matter what political stripe you’re from, you’ve lost your home,” Nunn said during the CNN interview about House Republicans’ support for conditional disaster relief. 

Yet as he told Fox Business this week, he says House Republicans want to see the state change what he called “bad behavior.” Criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, he said the state needed to alter its tax policy to gain access to federal aid.

When challenged by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about the precedent of conditioning disaster aid, Nunn defended the approach, stating that “there have been conditions placed on aid before, particularly when it comes to emergency aid.”

After Hurricane Helene ravaged Florida, President Joe Biden requested billions in emergency disaster relief. During Biden’s visit last October, Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to meet with the president.

“You can’t only help those in need if they voted for you,” Biden posted on X. “It’s the most basic part of being president.”

Yet, the apparent shift in Nunn’s position highlights his party’s growing belief that even disaster aid is a political football, even as communities across the country face mounting challenges from severe weather events. Back in 2018 when wildfires were tearing across California, Trump initially refused disaster aid before reversing course.