Congress demands details of money from $100 million ‘FireAid’ fundraiser for California
There was Lady Gaga. And Jelly Roll, and Katy Perry, and other big-name entertainers.
It took five hours and the so-called “FireAid” fundraiser reportedly raised some $100 million to help those harmed by California’s Pacific Palisades fire in Los Angeles.
But there long have been questions about the collection and distribution of that cash, and now Congress is taking action, dispatching a letter to a reported recipient of some of the funds, and demanding answers.
The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday released an interim staff report called, “FireAid Apparently Misused Charitable Donations by Funding Illegal Aliens, Podcasters, and Non-Profits’ Administrative Costs” that details “how FireAid – a fundraising initiative created to provide direct relief to wildfire victims in Southern California – diverted donations intended for fire victims to left-leaning pet projects, illegal aliens, and administrative costs for various non-profit organizations.”
With the report, the committee sent a letter to one group that apparently got some of the funding, calling for answers.
“FireAid advertised that all donations raised during its benefit concert would go directly to victims of the California wildfires. Unfortunately, this was not the case. To date, FireAid has granted $75 million of the $100 million raised to a total of 188 non-profits, including $100,000 for voter participation efforts for Native Americans, $550,000 to groups involved in political advocacy, an unknown amount of money toward illegal aliens, $100,000 to podcasters, and over $500,000 for bonuses, salaries, and consultants for non-profit organizations,” the committee announcement said.
“According to an internal report commissioned by FireAid, Altadena Talks Foundation received $100,000 in grants to support victims of the California wildfires. Instead, the foundation used the relief funds to support podcasts discussing the California wildfires on the show, despite being tech focused.”
Further, the committee added, “A grant report dated February 2025 included a list of the Community Organized Relief Efforts’ (CORE) ‘priority groups’ that it sought to help using money received from FireAid. Among those priority groups were ‘Undocumented Migrants,’ who CORE asserted are ‘at high risk of housing instability, economic hardship, exploitation, and homelessness.'”
FIRE FRAUD: New Report Details How FireAid Diverted Charitable Donations to Left-Wing Pet Projects like:
-Illegal aliens
-Podcasts
-Voter participation efforts for Native Americans
-Political advocacy groups
-Consultant fees
-Salaries and bonuses for liberal non-profits… pic.twitter.com/wXhXOSJkxC
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) January 6, 2026
The committee’s letter went to Ann Lee, of the CORE, which pointed out FireAid had promised, apparently falsely, that the funds would go “directly to people affected by the wildfires.”
Information available reveals that CORE, instead, got cash.
The committee asks CORE to explain what happened to the $250,000 it reportedly got.
“CORE’s statement mission is to ’empower communities in and beyond crisis’ and its vision is to build a ‘more equitable world in which underserved communities are prepared and can effectively respond to crisis from within.’ A grant report dated February 2025 included a list of CORE’s ‘priority groups’ that it sought to help using money received from FireAid. Among those priority groups were ‘undocumented migrants,’ who CORE asserted are ‘at high risk of housing instability, economic hardship, exploitation, and homelessness.'”
Then Joe Biden used a disaster declaration for the fire, as “the nation has an important interest in assisting victims of federally declared disasters and discouraging potential fraud or misuse of charitable funds.”
CORE was asked to provide a breakdown of all money received from FireAid, including the purpose of all monies, and to provide documentation.
The letter, signed by Rep. Kevin Riley and Rep. Jim Jordan, said, “The Supreme Court has recognized that Congress has a ‘broad and indispensable’ power to conduct oversight, which ‘encompasses inquiries into the administration of existing laws, studies of proposed laws, and surveys in our social, economic or political system for the purpose of enabling Congress to remedy them.’ Pursuant to the Rules of the House of Representatives the Judiciary Committee is authorized to conduct oversight of matters concerning criminal law and fraud in order to inform potential legislative reform.”
WorldNetDaily had reported earlier that many fire victims have said they haven’t seen a penny of help from FireAid.
Instead, the funds apparently were handed out to a long list of “nonprofit” groups.
Fox News asked, of FireAid and the Annenberg Foundation, which helped coordinate the event, where the money went, how much did non-profits get, how many fire victims were given aid and more.
People thought the money they were donating were actually going to people needing help after the LA Fires.
Instead, nonprofits misused $100 million in FireAid Concert Funds. Jennifer Horn breaks down this disgusting scandal: pic.twitter.com/W6IAXl39Lu
— Steve Hilton For Governor (@TeamSteveHilton) July 25, 2025
NEW: Remember that star-studded FIREAID CONCERT after the LA wildfires?
They raised $100 million… but VICTIMS say they haven’t seen A PENNY… it went to MUSICIANS and PODCASTERS instead?! pic.twitter.com/ugXtEQUewl
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) July 23, 2025
Annenberg Foundation head said they took in $800 Million for LA Wildfire Recovery, including $100 Million from the FireAid Concert. Most of the money has gone to local non-profits and not fire victims. Where is all the money going if not to the people of Palisades, Malibu and… https://t.co/6Pjv0IrQmP pic.twitter.com/1lOPjMPkfr
— Ross (@therossg) May 14, 2025
When a “monster” fire victim, celebrity Spencer Pratt spoke out, Newsom scrubbed the evidence! (Video: @ClareDunnMusic)
Where did the $100 million raised during January’s FireAid concerts go? To leftist and “woke” nonprofit groups — NOT to fire victims.
In February, $50… pic.twitter.com/RfIJDp3PRB
— SaveCalifornia.com (@savecalifornia) July 25, 2025
The Fireaid fundraiser raised over $100M for Los Angeles fire victims… or so they thought. But now, victims say they haven’t seen a penny, and they’re demanding answers. pic.twitter.com/VtYoWFxelv
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 25, 2025
Despite its assurances, FireAid later released a statement claiming it could not deliver help directly to individuals and never planned to do that, instead partnering with “local nonprofits.”
The report noted the cash apparently has been used for issues like “environmental resilience, and sustainable rebuilding.”
$100M collected during benefit for L.A. fire victims, but they’re not seeing any of it