California Republican federal congressman Kevin Kiley announced on September 18 that California has received $1 billion in federal funding to strengthen water resource storage, as 40% of the state is currently facing drought.
Kiley called it “good news” on social platform X.
Two days ago, the California Republican Assembly, led by Kiley, wrote a letter to the White House requesting that the recently passed $1 billion federal funding be specifically allocated to California’s water storage and transportation projects; they warned that the funding could be diverted to other regions.
The letter, signed by all members of the California Republican Congressional delegation on September 16, praised President Trump’s recent executive actions in water resource policy and urged for swift allocation of the funds to address the long-standing water shortage issues plaguing California’s farms and communities. The “Great and Beautiful” Act signed by Trump on July 4 incorporated provisions for water infrastructure into broader budget coordination efforts.
In the letter addressed to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers wrote, “Since the beginning of the budget coordination process, our delegation has worked tirelessly with relevant authorization committees and House leadership to secure no-cost water resources infrastructure funding.”
They pointed out that the House version of the bill proposed allocating $2 billion for expanding Bureau of Reclamation surface water storage facilities and $500 million for upgrading water conveyance pipes. However, the Senate reduced the total amount to $1 billion and expanded the scope to include all states with relevant facilities, potentially depriving California of its rightful share.
The delegation emphasized that the funding aligns with Trump’s water resource agenda, citing Trump’s provision of $20 million in initial construction funds for the Shasta Dam expansion project in 2018 (which can increase storage capacity by 634,000 acre-feet) and the increase in water supply for the Central Valley Project and state water projects through a 2020 biological opinion.
The recent actions, including Executive Order 14181 on emergency water resource measures and the memorandum titled “Putting People Over Fish: Preventing Radical Environmentalism to Protect Southern California’s Water Supply,” highlight the federal government’s commitment.
Lawmakers in the letter affirmed the importance of water conveyance projects and also pointed out that increasing surface water storage is a necessary priority. They urged Vought and Burgum to “take all appropriate actions” to direct the funds towards California’s plans.
This initiative highlights the ongoing controversy over California’s water resources; there has long been a conflict between environmental protection for endangered fish species and the water needs of agriculture and urban areas. Trump frequently criticized such regulations during his first term, and his actions in the second term once again focus on infrastructure development, stating to “put people over fish.”
Regulatory agencies stated that expanding water storage capacity can alleviate drought pressures, while critics argue that doing so may overlook ecological needs. The delegation’s letter did not mention environmental protection but focused on the water reliability for “farmers and communities.”
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the letter or funding plan.
While $1 billion only represents a small portion of California’s broader water funding needs, in a divided Congress, this is still a rare federal victory for California Republican lawmakers.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Water Resources did not immediately respond to requests for comments.