Biden Administration Announces One-Time $770 Payments To California Wildfire Victims

President Biden announced a one-time payment of $770 for victims of the ongoing California wildfires on Monday.

What Happened: The announcement came during a wildfire briefing at the White House on Monday. The President emphasized that the federal support is not waiting for the fires to end, but is being provided immediately, reported The Hill.

“We're getting them help right now, as you all know. People impacted by these fires are going to receive a one-time payment of $770, one-time payment, so they quickly purchase things like water, baby formula and prescription,” said Biden.

According to the President, nearly 6,000 survivors have already registered for the program, and $5.1 million has been disbursed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency activated its Critical Needs Assistance Program last week, which facilitated the initial one-time payment.

Biden also provided updates on the containment of the wildfires, reporting 14% containment in Pacific Palisades, 33% in Pasadena, and 100% in Ventura. He confirmed last week that the federal government will cover 100% of the costs of California's efforts to fight the wildfires for 180 days, extending into the upcoming administration of President-elect Trump.

The announcement comes amidst public disagreements between President-elect Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the handling of the fires. Newsom has expressed concerns that the incoming administration could withhold disaster aid to California.

See Also: Joe Biden’s Approval Rating Hits 37% Ahead Of White House Exit, Poll Finds President Made Progress In 1 Of 18 Areas

Image via Shutterstock

Did You Know?

This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.