Biden has said that the federal government will cover 100% of the initial disaster response to the Los Angeles wildfires for 180 days
President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that the federal government would cover 100% of the costs for the initial disaster response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
Speaking from the White House during a meeting with federal officials, Biden stated that the funding would support debris removal, temporary shelters, salaries for first responders, and more for a period of 180 days. "I’ve told California officials to spare no expense to do what they need to do," Biden said.
He also delivered a heartfelt message to those affected by the fires: "We are with you. We are not going anywhere. To the firefighters and first responders, you are heroes."
As the fires continued to ravage Southern California, five major blazes had already scorched roughly 28,000 acres, forced hundreds of thousands of evacuations, and claimed at least five lives. Many more have been injured.
"The cost of cleaning up the debris is massive. The cost of rebuilding homes is staggering," Biden said. "We need Congress to step up when we ask for additional help to ensure people get the support they need. It really matters."
Vice President Kamala Harris, herself a Californian whose neighborhood faced evacuation earlier in the week, joined Biden at the meeting. "What we’re witnessing in Southern California is apocalyptic in scale," Harris said.
Biden signed a major disaster declaration on Wednesday, enabling victims to access federal funds and resources immediately to assist with recovery efforts. He also directed the Pentagon to provide any firefighting resources needed, including helicopters and 500 personnel to assist local responders. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the deployment, Biden confirmed.
"We anticipate a temporary reprieve in the winds, but in some areas, they may persist into the coming week," Biden said. "We’re continuing to send every resource we can find to help Governor Newsom and the first responders."
Biden canceled a planned trip to Italy—where he was set to meet with Pope Francis and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni—to focus on managing the federal response to the disaster.
On Wednesday, Biden visited California and received a briefing from officials alongside Governor Gavin Newsom, who has faced criticism from President-elect Donald Trump over his handling of the fires. Trump falsely claimed Thursday morning that FEMA has "no money" under Biden’s administration. In reality, Congress passed a bill in December allocating $100 billion for disaster aid, including $29 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, though this amount was less than Biden’s original $40 billion request.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell traveled to Los Angeles on Thursday to meet with local officials and assess the damage. FEMA has also provided a guide to assistance for those impacted, offering funds for essential items such as food, water, and medicine. Individuals in designated areas can apply for aid at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
"To the families living through this nightmare, I want you to know we’re here for you," Biden said. "We’ll help you recover, rebuild, and move forward together."