Former reality television star Spencer Pratt joined U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler on Wednesday to accuse California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of delaying rebuilding efforts after January’s devastating wildfires.
Pratt, who lost the home he shared with wife Heidi Montag in the Palisades Fire, toured damaged property in the Pacific Palisades and repeated accusations that state and city leaders have stymied recovery through what he described as mismanagement and "criminal negligence." Loeffler said homeowners and businesses face a backlog of permits and other "red tape" despite federal aid distributed after the disaster.
The Palisades and Eaton fires in January destroyed an estimated 16,000 structures. Pratt and Montag filed a lawsuit on Jan. 21 against the city of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power, along with about 20 other property owners, alleging the city and the utility contributed to the destruction of their home.
Loeffler, a Trump administration official, said the SBA has offered support to victims since President Donald Trump met with local officials in the first week of his second term. She said the federal government has distributed roughly $3.2 billion in aid through the SBA alone and urged state and local officials to clear the backlog of permits so rebuilding can begin.
Only 475 rebuild permits had been issued by the city of Los Angeles and 313 by Los Angeles County, according to the most recent figures Loeffler cited. She said homeowners were facing delays in approvals and long waits for loans such as Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Pratt said he welcomed a congressional investigation led by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and criticized what he characterized as a partisan silence from Democratic leaders. "No Democratic senator asked me to tour my parents’ burned-out lot, all my friends’ and neighborhoods’ burned-out lots," Pratt told reporters. He added he wanted accountability for public officials whom he said had received taxpayer funds but had not delivered relief.
A Newsom administration spokesperson dismissed Loeffler’s visit as a "photo op," and said the Trump administration could help by speeding up loan approvals, fighting for congressional funding and addressing delays in federal loan programs. "Until then, Angelenos will just have to make do with lots of reassurances, photo ops from Loeffler, and maybe, just maybe, some thoughts and prayers," the spokesperson said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ office did not respond to a request for comment, according to reporting.
Sen. Scott’s probe joins litigation already filed by Pratt and other property owners and reflects growing scrutiny from Republican officials over the pace of recovery. Loeffler said the federal government has tried to assist since the administration’s early engagement after the fires and urged state and local officials to act on permits and other administrative obstacles.
Critics of local response have focused on permit processing times, decisions about rebuilding in fire-affected zones and interactions between municipal agencies and utility providers. City and county officials have said they are balancing safety, environmental reviews and code compliance while handling a large volume of applications and limited staffing.
The dispute highlights tension between federal and local authorities over disaster recovery and rebuilding priorities. Residents and business owners in affected neighborhoods have reported long waits to clear debris, obtain inspections and receive approvals needed to begin reconstruction. Some of those residents have pursued legal action alleging negligence contributed to the losses.
As the congressional probe and lawsuits proceed, homeowners seeking to rebuild will continue to wait for permits and loans that officials say are necessary before reconstruction can start. The administration official and the reality TV alumnus framed their criticism as calls for faster action; state officials countered that safety and regulatory processes must be followed while relief proceeds.
The situation remains fluid: federal aid has been distributed, lawsuits are pending in court, and a congressional investigation has been announced. Local officials and state representatives will likely face continued questions about permit backlogs, the pace of loan approvals and the coordination of recovery efforts as affected communities seek to rebuild after the January fires.