Sponsors (13)
The bill helps firefighters and local governments recover training-related expenses quickly and with clearer rules when cancellations are caused by a FEMA funding lapse, at the cost of added federal spending, potential strain on FEMA's administrative capacity, and gaps in coverage for some cancellation reasons.
Firefighters and EMS departments will be reimbursed for travel, lodging, and overtime/backfill costs when Academy training is cancelled due to a FEMA funding lapse, reducing out‑of‑pocket losses and helping maintain emergency readiness.
Fire departments and local governments will receive reimbursements within 90 days, providing timely financial relief so they can restore staffing and operations after cancellations.
Fire departments and local governments get clearer definitions of covered activities and eligible expenses (including virtual options and backfill), increasing predictability for training planning and budgeting.
Some fire departments may still be left uncompensated because cancellations due to instructor illness, facility closure, or a national emergency are excluded, leaving those departments with unrecovered losses.
Taxpayers will likely bear increased federal costs because the government will reimburse departments for cancellations caused by appropriation lapses.
FEMA could face an administrative burden to process claims within 90 days, straining agency resources and potentially diverting staff from other priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires FEMA to reimburse fire departments for travel and backfill costs when Academy courses or activities are canceled due to a lapse in FEMA appropriations, unless cancelled for defined good cause.
Requires FEMA to reimburse fire departments for travel and "backfill" expenses when a National Fire Academy course, conference, or activity is canceled during (or because of) a lapse in FEMA appropriations, unless the cancellation is for defined "good cause." Fire departments have 30 days after the lapse ends to submit an itemized claim, and FEMA must pay within 90 days after the later of the lapse ending or FEMA receiving the claim. Defines what counts as a covered course or activity (on-campus, off-campus, virtual courses and on-campus conferences/symposia), what counts as covered expenses (travel and backfill, including overtime and staffing adjustments), and what constitutes "good cause" for cancellation (facility closures for reasons other than the lapse, instructor illness/unavailability, or a national emergency).
Introduced October 17, 2025 by April McClain Delaney · Last progress October 17, 2025