Sponsors (4)
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Allows FEMA to keep disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations running during a lapse in federal appropriations by permitting use of existing Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) balances. It explicitly authorizes obligating and disbursing DRF funds for individual and public assistance, permits FEMA to maintain staff and contractor support needed to process claims and payments, prevents withholding or reprogramming of unobligated DRF balances during a funding lapse (with limited exception to follow the Anti‑Deficiency Act), and designates those FEMA operations as "essential to protect human life and property" for purposes of the Anti‑Deficiency Act.
The bill ensures uninterrupted FEMA disaster response and funding during appropriations lapses—protecting people, communities, and recovery projects—while trading off reduced congressional control over spending, added legal uncertainty, and the risk of increased federal outlays during shutdowns.
Disaster-affected individuals (low-income residents, homeowners, renters, urban and rural community members) will continue to receive FEMA individual assistance, claims processing, payments, and emergency property‑protection services during an appropriations lapse, preventing interruptions to basic disaster aid.
State and local governments (including rural and local jurisdictions) can keep accessing public assistance and Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) resources during a funding lapse to continue recovery, rebuilding, mitigation projects, and broader disaster-response activities.
FEMA personnel and disaster‑response operations can remain active during a shutdown, enabling life‑saving response and uninterrupted operations (including claims processing) that speed recovery and reduce backlogs.
Taxpayers may face continued federal outlays during an appropriations lapse—reducing short‑term spending control, increasing fiscal pressure, and limiting budgetary flexibility during shutdowns.
Exempting broad FEMA activities from shutdown rules could weaken congressional leverage to compel timely appropriations, reducing incentives to negotiate budgets on schedule and potentially prolonging shutdown-related uncertainty for other programs and agencies.
The bill's 'notwithstanding' language and exemptions could create legal risks and Anti‑Deficiency Act or separation‑of‑powers conflicts, producing uncertainty and potential litigation for agency officials.
Introduced October 21, 2025 by Wesley Bell · Last progress October 21, 2025