House Judiciary Alleges California Wildfire Relief Donations Went To Illegal Aliens, Podcasters And Admin Costs

Following the Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires in January 2025, a two-venue benefit concert known as FireAid raised $100 million for victims. Questions later surfaced over how the funds were distributed, as many victims said the donations had not gone directly to survivors.

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According to a newly released interim staff report, FireAid initially advertised that all donations would go directly to wildfire victims. The report cites actor Miles Teller, who served as emcee for the concert, saying the money would “go directly to people who need it now and long-term efforts to build it back.”

As questions mounted about direct payments, FireAid reportedly said it did not have the “capability to make direct payments to individuals” and that it was “never the plan.” Instead, the organization said donations would be “designated for direct relief and will not be used for administrative purposes,” according to its website.

Of the $100 million raised, $75 million was granted to 188 nonprofits. The committee obtained internal documents detailing how the funds were distributed.

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CORE said that during the disaster it “mobilized immediately to meet people’s urgent needs and fill critical resource gaps” by providing $3 million in cash assistance, distributing 44,000 hygiene kits and N95 masks, operating a child-friendly space at the largest local shelter, removing more than 130 tons of debris from community infrastructure and cleaning smoke-damaged homes.

However, the committee said a February 2025 CORE grant report listed “undocumented migrants” among its “priority groups,” citing the population as being “at high risk of housing instability, economic hardship, exploitation, and homelessness.”

Another $100,000 allegedly went to podcasters through the Altadena Talks Foundation, which supports Altadena Talks host Toni Raines and other shows. According to the report, Raines, who was born and raised in Altadena, began speaking publicly about the wildfires, applied for a FireAid grant and ultimately received funding.

“It remains unclear how and if this FireAid money went to directly aid wildfire victims,” the report states.

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The committee also found that more than $500,000 in donations were used to pay bonuses, salaries and consultants at nonprofit organizations. That information came from a grant report obtained from the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), which detailed how FireAid funds were used.

According to the report, CCSA said the “grant was distributed to four charter schools … to help return to classes, whether to rent temporary facilities, provide classroom equipment, provide supplementary counseling.” However, records allegedly showed the association used FireAid funds to pay staff stipends, including $64,149 to Pasadena Rosebud Academy and $34,400 to Alma Fuerte Public School.

“These ‘stipends’ for staff were to recognize ‘extraordinary contributions’ or those ‘who responded immediately with their time and efforts,’” the report states.

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Before the committee’s latest findings, reports indicated that $550,000 of FireAid donations went to groups involved in political advocacy and $100,000 was used to promote voter participation.

In September 2025, global law firm Latham & Watkins conducted an investigation into the concert’s donations. According to its independent review, FireAid acted appropriately and “distributed funds in line with its mission with no misuse.” During the height of the allegations in 2025, Altadena resident Michael Towns spoke to ABC7 stating that FireAid money was helping rebuild his music teaching business, along with paying for his rent.

Those who performed at the FireAid concert included singers like Gracie Abrams, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Red Hot Chili Peppers. FireAid still has a remaining $25 million to disperse.

FireAid did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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