SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- California's governor said a false earthquake alert sent by the U.S. Geological Survey's early warning system last week "shows that failure is Trump’s default setting." Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump's administration, accusing federal officials of "neglec t and incompetence" that could lead to more technical failures and a lack of preparedness for natural disasters. On December 4, a USGS seismic sensor system sent an earthquake warning via ShakeAlert to millions of people across Northern California, the governor's office said. ShakeAlert incorrectly reported that a major 5.9-magnitude quake was in progress near the California-Nevada border. Residents hundreds of miles away, including some in the San Francisco Bay Area, received the fake quake alert. Newsom said, "As a San Franciscan, I know all too well that the next big earthquake isn’t a matter of if but when. When Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress shortchange critical safety systems and target hardworking federal staff, that’s not just negligence, it’s an active endangerment of American lives." California Gov. Gavin Newsom looks on during a bill signing event related to redrawing the state’s congressional maps on August 21, 2025 in Sacramento. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The governor said the bogus quake exposes broader problems. "Recent earthquakes in Alaska and Japan highlight seismic activity along the Pacific Rim. Instead of strengthening cooperative monitoring for potential disasters, federal agencies struggle under leadership that views preparedness as a partisan luxury," Newsom's office wrote. Five members of California’s Congressional delegation, including Rep. Eric Swalwell and Rep. Kevin Mullin, sent a letter to the U.S. Geological Survey Thursday seeking information about what may have led to the false alarm. "Seconds matter during an emergency, and alert systems can save lives when used properly," Mullin said. "Alert fatigue and false alarms are a real issue. We need to ensure the federal government is properly funding and supporting these crucial public safety systems so that they are reliable and trustworthy." In the letter, lawmakers are asking USGS officials: Why did multiple seismic stations report false shaking on Dec. 4? What safeguards exist to validate seismic readings before issuing public alerts? How is the USGS is working with state and local officials to assess the impacts of false alerts and identify improvements? What criteria determines whether and when alerts are sent to the public? The USGS works to protect communities and advance science. Without enough funding and support from the Trump administration and Congress, their efforts will remain hampered, Newsom's office said. ...read more read less