As firefighters continue to battle raging fires across Los Angeles County, a cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department 2025 budget and its commitment to recruiting a more diverse force have come under attack.

The city of Los Angeles, a region frequently threatened by wildfires, faced an unprecedented crisis in 2024. As multiple wildfires devastated communities, attention turned to Mayor Karen Bass’s decision to reduce funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) while significantly increasing the budget for homelessness initiatives.

Chief Kristin Crowley on Friday said the city's administration let the LAFD down, as major wildfires continue to ravage the city. The $17 million cut in the budget for the fire department is having a negative impact on her agency's ability to fight fires,