Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote to leaders of Congress Friday requesting nearly $40 billion in disaster funding for recovery from the Los Angeles fires. Newsom said the funding would “directly support these communities in both the immediate and long-term recovery work needed to rebuild lives and properties from this catastrophic event.

The letter comes amid weeks of intense debate in Washington centered around whether the anticipated disaster aid for California would come with conditions

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is seeking funding to help Los Angeles recover from the wind-driven fires that swept across the Pacific Palisades and Altadena last month.