Trump directs US government to override California water policies if necessary

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WASHINGTON -U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Sunday directing the federal government to intervene in the state of California's water management methods if they are deemed ineffective.

The order is being issued two days after Trump visited the Los Angeles area, which has seen significant damage from a series of wildfires.

Donald Trump has falsely claimed that Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials in California refused to ship water from the state's northern region to fight the fires.

His order instructs federal agencies to "immediately take steps to counter any existing activities that are hindering the fullest possible delivery of water."

It directs the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to provide more water and hydropower through the Central Valley Project, a network of dams, canals, and other infrastructure, even if it contradicts state or local regulations.

It also directs the White House budget office to find out if they can attach requirements to federal funding for the state to ensure cooperation.

It's unclear if such changes would make California's firefighting efforts more effective. Water shortages during the peak of the disaster left some hydrants dry in certain areas of Los Angeles, but local authorities attribute that to their under-preparedness for such a catastrophic event.

We did not receive an immediate response from Newsom's office regarding a request for comment.

Reporting by Andy Sullivan; editing by Diane Craft