Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is finding herself under fire—both figuratively and literally—as questions swirl about her decision to travel overseas while her city faced the very real threat of devastating wildfires.
The timing of her trip to Ghana, coupled with her history of budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), has raised serious concerns about her priorities and leadership during a crisis.
Bass was more than 7,000 miles away last week when the fires began to erupt, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds and dry conditions. The mayor, along with three others, was attending the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.
When pressed by reporters about whether she regretted the trip, Bass seemed flustered. Her initial attempt to deflect the question was followed by an abrupt “no” and a hasty exit, signaling an uncharacteristic loss of composure for a politician who typically prides herself on calm, measured responses.
The controversy over the trip is compounded by Bass’s track record when it comes to funding public safety. Last year, she approved nearly $18 million in cuts to the LAFD budget—a decision that has had a tangible impact on the department’s ability to combat emergencies like wildfires.
In a December 2024 memo to the Board of Fire Commissioners, L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley outlined the alarming consequences of those cuts. Crowley warned that the reduced funding had "severely limited the department's capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires."
Perhaps most concerning was the effect on the LAFD’s aerial firefighting capabilities and heavy equipment operators, both critical resources for wildfire mitigation. Crowley noted that the budget reductions compromised pilot compliance and readiness, while also diminishing the department's ability to create fire control lines, maintain fire roads, and manage emergency robotics. In other words, the city’s ability to respond to wildfires—a predictable and recurring threat in Southern California—was deliberately weakened.
This context makes Bass’s absence during a high-risk wildfire season even more problematic. The optics of her trip are troubling enough, but when paired with the long-term consequences of her budget decisions, they suggest a deeper problem: a leadership style that prioritizes optics and external commitments over the immediate safety and needs of Angelenos. Firefighters, already stretched thin, are left to contend with the fallout.
Bass’s defenders might argue that international diplomacy and fostering relationships with global leaders have their place. However, leadership demands balance and discernment, especially during times of crisis. Attending an inauguration on another continent while her city faced wildfire threats suggests misplaced priorities at best—and tone-deafness at worst.