President Biden on Friday said he’s teaming up with the incoming Trump administration about the federal response to the Los Angeles wildfires.
During a briefing to detail how his administration is assisting L.A. officials, Mr. Biden acknowledged that the fires will likely continue after he leaves office on Jan. 20.
“Everything they know about this response,” Mr. Biden said of Trump officials. “My hope is that they at least acknowledge we have some significant experience in this. We’ve done really well on it, and I’m praying they’ll continue to focus.”
Mr. Biden said it will be up to the Trump administration to decide whether to ask Congress to approve federal aid for Los Angeles as a stand-alone bill or a supplemental funding request attached to already proposed legislation.
“I think whether I’m going to be here, there’s just 10 days left, we’re briefing the opposition — not the opposition — the incoming administration on what they are going to have to do,” he said. “Look, we have an awful lot of experience with this stuff, unfortunately.”
The president declined to put a price tag on how much federal taxpayer money will be needed to assist local governments and victims in California.
“I could tell you based on my experience what I think the costs will be. But I’m not going to do that because you don’t know,” he said.
Mr. Biden on Thursday pledged that the federal government would pay the entire cost of the Los Angeles fires for 180 days, a significant increase from what is typically covered when disaster strikes.
Typically, the federal government covers 75% of the costs, but Mr. Biden upped the amount to 100% for six months. That’s more than what was requested by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who asked the feds to pay 90%.
The funds will reimburse local governments for the cost of debris and hazardous material removal, temporary shelters, first responder salaries and “all necessary measures to protect life and property and folks,” Mr. Biden said.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.