Sponsors (6)
The bill preserves uninterrupted disaster aid and emergency response during funding gaps by allowing continued DRF disbursements and excepting necessary staff, at the cost of reduced congressional control over spending, potential reallocation of DRF away from other programs, and a precedent that may lessen shutdown pressure on lawmakers.
State and local governments, homeowners, and disaster survivors continue to receive FEMA individual and public assistance during federal funding lapses because Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) disbursements are required to continue, preventing interruptions in aid after disasters.
Federal emergency personnel needed for relief operations remain on duty during lapses, reducing delays in response and enabling faster recovery actions for affected communities.
Clarifying which funds and programs are covered reduces legal uncertainty so payments for life‑and‑property protection can continue uninterrupted during appropriations gaps.
Taxpayers may face continued federal spending during a shutdown with reduced congressional oversight over new obligations charged to remaining DRF balances.
State and local governments and some disaster recovery programs could see delays or reduced support if remaining DRF balances are prioritized for covered programs during prolonged funding lapses.
Authorizing FEMA employees to be treated as excepted during lapses could create a precedent for broader use of excepted status, weakening incentives for Congress to resolve appropriations quickly and changing how shutdowns are managed.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows FEMA to continue obligating and disbursing available Disaster Relief Fund money and to keep essential FEMA staff working during any lapse in appropriations.
Introduced October 17, 2025 by Jared Moskowitz · Last progress October 17, 2025
Requires FEMA to keep paying for disaster relief and recovery out of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) during any federal government funding lapse, and to keep the staff needed to carry out those payments and programs on the job. It treats those employees as excepted under the Anti‑Deficiency Act so they cannot be furloughed or subject to a reduction in force during the lapse.