President Joe Biden has announced that the federal government will cover the entire cost of the response to wildfires in California, prompting some to compare his policy to previous disasters.
Biden said that "the federal government will cover 100 percent" of the response to wildfires in Southern California, which have killed at least ten people and injured thousands more.
Newsweek contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the White House for comment on this story via email.
Why It Matters
Southern California is experiencing the worst wildfires in recent memory, with over 180,000 residents in Los Angeles being told to evacuate since the wildfires approached residential neighborhoods. A state of emergency has been declared, and 170,000 households are without power. But Federal responses to other disasters have been criticized as lacking, namely the Maui wildfire disaster of August, 2023, and, initially, Hurricane Helene in September.
What To Know
On January 10, Joe Biden said that the federal government would cover the full cost of the response to the wildfires in California, writing in a statement: "I'm announcing that the federal government will cover 100 percent of the cost of measures to protect lives and property in Southern California for six months.
"I've told the Governor and officials to spare no expense and do whatever they need to contain the fires and protect families."
While the statement was met with praise from leaders in California, others compared it to the federal government's previous response to disasters in other parts of the U.S, with particular focus on Hurricane Helene and the wildfires in Maui.
How Did Biden Respond to Maui Wildfires?
The Maui wildfire disaster response received $3 billion from the federal government via FEMA, after fires spread through the Hawaii island, killing 114 people.
FEMA also transported 50,000 meals, 75,000 liters of water and 10,000 blankets for survivors and displaced families.
However, Biden's announcement that affected households in Maui would be eligible for a one-off $700 payment on August 14 was described as "insulting" by critics, who thought the payments should have been higher.
In June 2024, the White House wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson, asking Congress to approve additional relief funding for Maui, as well as other disaster responses across the U.S.
Biden did not make a statement saying that the federal government would cover the full costs of the response.
How Did Biden Respond to Hurricane Helene?
Joe Biden visited several states affected by Hurricane Helene, and FEMA provided around $20 million to disaster relief efforts across several states.
The September storm left 246 dead and caused widespread damage in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia.
Biden was praised by several governors in the region, including Brian Kemp, governor of Georgia, but there had been initial criticism of the speed and organization of the response.
Similarly to Maui, Biden did not make a statement saying that the federal government would cover the full costs of the hurricane response.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom said: "Earlier today, I spoke to @POTUS about the coordinated response & allocation of federal resources to fight the fires in Los Angeles. President Biden has authorized increasing federal assistance to cover 100 percent of California's fire management and debris removal costs for 180 days.
"We are incredibly thankful to the Biden-Harris Administration and FEMA for aiding California in this time of need."
What Happens Next
The cost of the response is expected to rise as the fires continue to spread towards residential areas in Los Angeles due to wind conditions, and the incoming administration may see Biden's 100 percent pledge differently.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump transition team for comment via email.
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