Biden increases federal cost share for California wildfire emergency work

President Joe Biden amended the California wildfire disaster declaration on January 13, 2025, increasing federal funding for emergency work tied to wildfires and straight-line winds that began on January 7. The amendment raised federal funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and direct federal assistance to 100 percent of total eligible costs for a 180-day period chosen by the state within the first 270 days of the incident period. This followed the earlier major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County. The action mattered because changing the federal cost share can shift hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency work from state and local budgets to the federal government during a fast-moving disaster.