As California wildfires continue to wreak havoc, President Joe Biden has assured affected residents that federal aid is available, including a $770 emergency payment to cover immediate necessities. However, misleading social media posts have falsely suggested that this is the only assistance wildfire victims will receive, drawing comparisons to U.S. foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel.
The Reality of Federal Assistance for California Wildfire Victims
Since January 7, wildfires in Southern California have killed at least 24 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and displaced around 180,000 people. To help victims, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has introduced several assistance programs, including:
- $770 Emergency Payment – Covers food, fuel, baby formula, and other essentials through FEMA’s Serious Needs Assistance program.
- Home Repair or Replacement – Financial aid for rebuilding homes damaged by the fires.
- Rental Assistance – Temporary housing support for displaced individuals.
- Medical Expense Assistance – Covers urgent healthcare needs caused by the disaster.
Despite this comprehensive aid package, political misinformation has oversimplified the relief efforts, falsely claiming that victims are only receiving $770 from the federal government.
Social Media Misleads Public on Federal Aid
Following Biden’s briefing on January 13, an X (formerly Twitter) account managed by Donald Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee (RNC) shared a misleading video clip of Biden saying:
“People impacted by these fires are going to receive a one-time payment of $770. One-time payment.”
This selective edit went viral, accumulating over 7 million views, as social media users misleadingly compared the $770 payment to the billions the U.S. has provided in foreign aid. The claim soon spread to other platforms, implying that fire victims are receiving inadequate assistance compared to Ukraine and Israel.
FEMA Clarifies the Full Scope of Disaster Relief
FEMA spokesperson Jayce Genco debunked the misleading claims, stating:
- The $770 payment is just one part of federal disaster aid.
- Additional programs exist for housing, medical needs, and rebuilding.
- The U.S. government is covering 100% of the costs for firefighting, debris removal, and temporary shelters for 180 days.
According to FEMA, nearly 6,000 wildfire survivors have already received $5.1 million in emergency payments under the Serious Needs Assistance program.
Biden’s Full Statement on Federal Aid
In his full speech, Biden emphasized the scale of federal support, saying:
“The federal government is going to cover 100% of the cost, for the next 180 days, for things like firefighter overtime pay, debris removal, and temporary shelters. It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to get Los Angeles back to where it was, so we’re going to need Congress to step up to provide funding.”
He then clarified the purpose of the $770 payment, explaining that it is meant for immediate relief, not as the only form of assistance.
The $770 emergency payment is just one small part of a much larger federal aid package for California wildfire victims. Misleading social media posts have falsely framed this as the only relief effort, drawing unfair comparisons to foreign aid. As recovery efforts continue, federal and state agencies remain committed to helping Californians rebuild their lives after this devastating disaster.