The Trump administration is setting its sights on the California Coastal Commission (CCC) as it seeks to condition federal disaster aid. Presidential envoy Ric Grenell suggested Friday that aid distribution for the L.A. wildfires could be contingent on defunding the 53-year-old agency.
“I don’t want to commit too much, but I will say this,” Grenell told an audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference. “Everyone who’s involved knows that the California Coastal Commission is a disaster, and it needs to absolutely be defunded. And from just a way to think about government, we already have local government making these decisions.”
“Squeezing their federal funds, making sure they don’t get funds, putting strings on them to get rid of the California Coastal Commission is going to make California better,” he added.
Bureaucratic Bugaboo
The California Coastal Commission was created by a 1972 voter initiative sparked by aggressive development in coastal areas. The 15-member body has broad authority to regulate development for over 1 million acres in the Coastal Zone.
Developers, homeowners, and local governments have criticized the commission for placing excessive limitations on the building and modification of structures. Critics say the body has become too politicized, painfully bureaucratic, and that it lacks proper oversight and accountability. While the CCC plays an important role in environmental protection and ensuring public beach access, it is often blamed for compounding the state’s affordable housing crisis.
In the aftermath of the L.A. wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a series of executive orders temporarily limiting the commission’s authority. Permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act have been suspended for rebuilding efforts. It’s an effort to “cut red tape” and prevent obstructions to recovery. But it’s arguably an admission that the CCC has been a barrier to housing all along.
A personal vendetta?
Donald Trump has had personal dealings with the CCC before. The commission has previously denied projects for his golf club in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Trump derided the commission at a wildfire recovery roundtable in L.A. last month.
“I've dealt with the Coastal Commission for a long time and they're considered the most difficult in the country,” he said. “We can't afford to wait 10 years and have them play their game. I'm going to override the Coastal Commission. I'm not going to let them get away with their antics."