Biden announces additional $500M military aid for Ukraine as California wildfires displace 70,000 residents

01/11/2025 / By Laura Harris

Outgoing President Joe Biden announced an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine, bringing the total U.S. assistance to over $1.75 billion since February 2022.
Southern California is dealing with devastating wildfires that have forced over 70,000 residents to evacuate and destroyed over a thousand homes.
The decision to continue providing Ukraine military aid has been criticized, especially amid economic challenges, rising inflation and border crises in the United States.
The Pacific Palisades fire in Los Angeles has caused widespread devastation, and the administration’s response has been limited to Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) approval of a Fire Management Assistance Grant.
The timing of the military aid announcement, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, highlights the outgoing Biden administration’s focus on bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities before the transition of power.

Outgoing President Joe Biden has announced an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine, as southern California grapples with devastating wildfires that have forced over 70,000 residents to evacuate and destroyed over a thousand homes.

The new aid package, which includes weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles, brings the total U.S. military assistance to Ukraine to over $1.75 billion since the start of the conflict in February 2022. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to finalize the aid package details during a meeting with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of 50 partner nations established to provide military support to Ukraine.

However, this decision to continue providing significant military aid to Ukraine has drawn criticism, especially as Americans face economic challenges, rising inflation and escalating crises at the southern border. (Related: Biden regime rushes $21 Billion in aid to Ukraine, escalating conflict.)

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Congress has approved nearly $175 billion in aid to Ukraine since the war began, with the majority allocated for military assistance. Meanwhile, the Pacific Palisades fire in Los Angeles has caused widespread devastation, with eyewitness footage shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Liz Kreutz and Jonathan Vigliotti capturing the destruction of entire neighborhoods. The fire has forced over 70,000 residents to flee their homes, with many losing everything in the process.

Biden only assured the public via his official X account that he is “frequently briefed” on the situation in response to the tragedy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to aid in the response.

“My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire. Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs. My Administration will do everything it can to support the response,” Biden wrote in his post. “I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials.”

This juxtaposition of the administration’s focus on international military aid and the unfolding domestic crisis has led to questions about the government’s priorities.

Biden is rushing to give military aid to Ukraine before Trump takes office

This latest package comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, highlighting the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Earlier this January, the U.S. announced a $1.25 billion military assistance package for Ukraine. The package includes vital equipment such as munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and the HAWK air defense system, as well as Stinger missiles and artillery rounds. The assistance will be expedited through presidential draw-down authority, allowing the Department of Defense to transfer weapons directly from its stockpiles to Ukraine.

This aid package comes in the wake of intensified Russian attacks targeting Ukraine’s power facilities. Ukrainian forces have demonstrated significant resistance, but the situation remains precarious. In particular, fierce battles are ongoing near the Russian border in Kursk, where Moscow has reportedly deployed thousands of North Korean troops in an attempt to regain lost territory.

Moreover, the aid package would fortify Ukraine’s military capabilities as Russia continues its assault on key Ukrainian infrastructure and territories before Trump takes office. This could somehow explain why Biden is prioritizing Ukraine over the wildfire in the Pacific Palisades region.

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