Newsom requests emergency declaration from Trump to support toxic chemical leak response

California Governor Gavin Newsom has submitted a request that President Donald Trump issue an emergency declaration in response to the state’s ongoing operations surrounding the toxic chemical leak in Orange County. 

”For more than 48 hours, [the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services] and state agencies have been on the ground supporting impacted communities, protecting public safety, and assisting local officials as response efforts continue,” Newsom said in a post on X. “Please continue following guidance from emergency officials.”

According to the governor’s office, a presidential emergency would allow the federal government, through FEMA, to assist local and state governments with emergency protective measures when public safety and health are at risk. The office said the declaration would provide “Federal cost‑share support for urgent, life‑saving, and life‑sustaining actions — evacuations, sheltering, emergency medical support, and other protective operations.”

The declaration would provide access to public assistance funding for emergency protective measures, helping cover overtime costs, equipment use, and other emergency actions being taken by local agencies. It would additionally allow FEMA to deploy to provide direct assistance, including personnel, specialized equipment, and technical support.

“California doesn’t wait for disaster to unfold, we act early to protect lives and communities. Working together with our local and federal partners, we’re strengthening our ability to respond quickly and effectively in Garden Grove and across the surrounding communities and ensuring that first responders have the resources they need to keep people safe,” Newsom said in a separate statement.

Emergency crews continued response efforts on Sunday after a toxic chemical leak at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove entered its fourth day. 50,000 people have been evacuated, and a tank estimated to contain 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate continues to be a public safety risk.