Trump Puts EPA Chief Zeldin in Charge of Expediting California Wildfire Rebuilds

As of the one-year anniversary of the disaster, city and county data show that only 10 homes have been fully rebuilt.

An aerial view shows empty lots and new homes under construction in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2026. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin will oversee efforts to rebuild California homes destroyed by last year’s devastating wildfires, President Donald Trump said.

The Jan. 28 announcement came a day after Trump signed an executive order to expedite home reconstruction in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, the two Los Angeles communities most severely affected by the fires.