FEMA Act of 2025

This bill overhauls how the federal government helps people after disasters. It would make FEMA a cabinet‑level, stand‑alone agency, then update many programs to speed help, cut red tape, and reward prevention. Survivors would use a single, universal application for federal disaster aid, instead of filling out different forms for different agencies. The bill also boosts transparency: FEMA must post a public dashboard for each new disaster showing project status and costs, agencies must post quarterly spending online, and the President must give detailed reasons when approving or denying a major disaster request .

Help for survivors would be simpler and more flexible. FEMA could directly repair damaged homes and add risk‑reduction fixes when money or contractors aren’t available; applicants wouldn’t be denied just because they have insurance before the insurance company makes a final decision, and notices and appeals would be clearer and faster. Certain housing aid could last up to 24 months (up from 18) . Short‑term “displacement” help for basics like food, hygiene items, and temporary stays with family or in a hotel wouldn’t be reduced by insurance payments.

• Who is affected: homeowners and renters, states, Tribal and local governments, and nonprofits (including houses of worship and schools) that seek disaster help.
• Cost share incentives: states that invest in readiness could get a larger federal share (up to 85%); those that fail to mitigate risk could see it drop (as low as 65%).
• Getting funds to communities: states must pass at least half of certain mitigation funds to local governments, and do so within 60 days or share project details with FEMA.
• Faster mitigation projects: states can submit peer‑reviewed, preapproved project lists; projects get default approval if reviews run late, to speed work on the ground .
• Home resilience: a pilot through 2028 would help families pay for upgrades like tornado‑safe rooms, wildfire hardening, and roof straps, with priority for those in financial need; FEMA can advance the federal share for home retrofits to get work started sooner .
• Combining dollars: projects can blend federal and private funding; if agency rules conflict, FEMA’s standards apply so work isn’t delayed.
• Clearing the backlog: a temporary task force would help close out old disasters faster and speed appeals, with ongoing progress updates until hundreds are closed.
• Public tracking: each new disaster gets a public project dashboard, and agencies must post spending data every quarter so communities can see where the money goes .