Sponsors (4)
The bill preserves continuity of FEMA response and Disaster Relief Fund spending during funding lapses—helping disaster-affected communities and responders—but shifts fiscal costs and oversight trade-offs onto taxpayers and the executive branch, and may create legal and budget-management complications.
Disaster-affected communities (homeowners, local governments, rural and urban communities) retain access to FEMA assistance and Disaster Relief Fund resources during federal funding lapses, reducing interruptions to recovery and aid.
FEMA personnel and operations can continue response and recovery activities during a shutdown, ensuring ongoing protection of lives and property.
Clarifies continuity for federally authorized FEMA operations, reducing administrative uncertainty for local governments and nonprofits that rely on federal disaster assistance.
Taxpayers may bear continuing FEMA and Disaster Relief Fund costs during government shutdowns without immediate appropriations, increasing deficit exposure and transferring fiscal risk to the public.
Limiting reprogramming of Disaster Relief Fund resources could constrain Treasury and administration flexibility to manage government-wide cash during funding lapses, complicating fiscal operations.
Keeping FEMA operations running while other programs are paused could shift political pressure and funding trade-offs onto nonessential programs, intensifying service interruptions for middle-class and low-income families.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Allows FEMA to use Disaster Relief Fund balances to continue disaster assistance, payments, and necessary staff/contract support during a lapse in appropriations.
Introduced October 21, 2025 by Wesley Bell · Last progress October 21, 2025
Allows FEMA to keep paying for and running disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation work using balances in the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) during a lapse in appropriations, so disaster assistance and claims processing continue without interruption. It also says DRF funds remain available during shutdowns and that FEMA operations authorized by the law are considered essential for purposes of the Anti‑Deficiency Act. The bill ensures FEMA can obligate and disburse DRF balances for existing and future disaster declarations, maintain necessary staff and contracts to process claims and payments, and prevents withholding or reprogramming DRF funds during funding gaps except as required by the Anti‑Deficiency Act.