Sponsors (2)
The bill keeps FEMA operations and disaster grants flowing during a funding lapse—protecting response capacity and aid delivery—but does so by reducing near-term congressional control over spending, creating potential retroactive fiscal obligations and administrative burdens, and introducing legal uncertainty for some recipients.
State, local, and rural governments and disaster-affected communities will continue to receive disaster-preparedness and recovery grants because FEMA can keep disbursing grant funding during a lapse, reducing interruptions to relief and mitigation projects.
FEMA employees will retain pay and benefits during a lapse, so federal disaster-response staffing and institutional knowledge remain in place to respond to emergencies without gaps.
Staffing for grant administration and Stafford Act authorities stays operational, helping state and local governments access federal assistance and keeping core emergency programs functioning.
The bill authorizes unspecified "such sums as may be necessary" and permits charging expenditures to future appropriations, which reduces immediate congressional spending control and transparency and could increase federal outlays paid by taxpayers.
Keeping grant disbursements active during a lapse may lock in spending priorities before Congress finalizes FY2026 allocations, limiting lawmakers' ability to reallocate or reprioritize funds.
Treating the Act as effective retroactively to Feb 13, 2026 can create new fiscal obligations and restore or extend benefits/authorities for that period, generating administrative burden for agencies and recipients and potential unexpected costs for the Treasury.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Temporarily funds FEMA pay, benefits, and grant administration in FY2026 beginning Feb 14, 2026 while appropriations are not in effect, with authority ending upon subsequent appropriations or Sept 30, 2026.
Official title: Make continuing appropriations for Federal Emergency Management Agency pay and operations in the event of a Federal Government shutdown, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 12, 2026 by Alejandro Padilla · Last progress March 12, 2026
Provides Treasury funds for FY2026 so FEMA can keep paying its employees, maintain benefits, and continue administering and disbursing FEMA grant programs beginning February 14, 2026 while FY2026 appropriations are not in effect. The funding authority is temporary and ends on the earliest of (1) enactment of an appropriation that covers these purposes, (2) enactment of an appropriations Act that omits funding for these purposes, or (3) September 30, 2026; the law is effective retroactively to February 13, 2026.