House Speaker Mike Johnson Tuesday blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom and California officials for the delay in getting approval of federal disaster aid for last winter’s deadly Los Angeles wildfires.

Asked if there was a way to get the funding approved, Johnson said at a Capitol news conference in Washington, D.C., “We wouldn’t know how much to commit because there’s a process this goes through.”

Newsom, who lately has been in a political war with the Trump administration, is a big reason, the Louisiana Republican said.

“Gavin Newsom seems to enjoy trying to stick his thumb in the eye of the White House and Congress, which seems to be counter purpose if he is requesting relief,” Johnson said.

The speaker said he had not seen a request for aid from the White House. But Newsom did send Johnson, Rep. Tom Cole, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and top House Democrats a 14-page detailed letter seeking help on February 21. The fires killed 30 people.

The governor asked for $39.6 billion to support cleanup, business recovery and other needs following the early January firestorms which destroyed more than 16,000 structures in Los Angeles County.

Newsom wrote the funds “will directly support these communities in both the immediate and long-term recovery work needed to rebuild lives and properties from this catastrophic event.”

Earlier in February, Newsom traveled to Washington, where he met with President Trump and members of Congress about the fires and requested aid. Trump toured wildfire sites in January and said he wanted conditions attached to any aid.

Newsom’s office said it was “in contact with the Speaker’s office” and chalked Johnson’s comments up to a misunderstanding.

“It’s our understanding the Speaker was referring specifically to the White House’s formal appropriations request,” the governor’s press office wrote in a post on X.

“We look forward to working together — in a bipartisan manner — to deliver the relief Americans need. Disaster doesn’t care about party lines.”

Distributed by Tribune News Services