FEMA Independence Act of 2025

This bill would make FEMA an independent, cabinet-level agency. Its mission is to reduce deaths and property damage and protect the country from all kinds of hazards, including natural disasters and terrorism. It would be led by a Director who reports to the President, with up to four Deputy Directors and 10 regional offices. The Director’s job includes leading the nation’s work to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters; keeping a single national response plan ready; making sure different agencies can talk to each other during a crisis; and planning how government keeps running if disaster strikes. The agency would also run the National Response Coordination Center.

It moves all current FEMA functions into the new agency within one year and creates an independent Inspector General. Current grants, rules, and cases continue without interruption, and employees will not be demoted or have their pay cut for one year after the move. The bill also updates related Homeland Security laws and grant programs to point to the new FEMA Director where needed.

• Who is affected: FEMA’s workforce; Federal, State, local, and tribal governments and emergency responders; and people and communities hit by disasters.
• What changes: FEMA becomes an independent, cabinet-level agency led by a Director, with 10 regional offices; it maintains a national response plan and the National Response Coordination Center, plans for keeping government running during crises, and has an Inspector General.
• When: The move must be completed within 365 days after enactment; most updates to other laws take effect once the move is complete; a follow-up report to Congress is due within 90 days after the transition.