Sponsors (3)
The bill provides more immediate FEMA disaster relief for domestic responders and affected households by redirecting previously unobligated USAID funds, trading increased domestic disaster capacity for reduced foreign-aid resources and potential disruption to overseas development programs.
Local and state governments, taxpayers, and disaster-affected households will receive increased FEMA Disaster Relief Fund resources, enabling faster recovery and more timely federal assistance after declared major disasters.
Foreign aid and development programs funded through USAID will lose unobligated funding, reducing resources available for planned projects and U.S. overseas assistance.
Countries and communities that rely on U.S. development assistance and long-term resilience programs may see weakened support as repurposed funds prioritize domestic relief, potentially undermining long-term stability and U.S. national security.
USAID staff, contractors, and implementing partners may face administrative disruption, delays, or cancellations of programs as unobligated funds are removed, harming jobs and program delivery.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Unobligated USAID appropriations at enactment are transferred into FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund for Stafford Act major disasters.
Official title: To transfer unobligated funds from the United States Agency for International Development to the Disaster Relief Fund.
Introduced February 14, 2025 by Josh Brecheen · Last progress February 14, 2025
Transfers any unobligated funds previously appropriated to USAID at enactment into the Disaster Relief Fund so FEMA can use them for major disasters declared under the Stafford Act. In short, unspent USAID appropriations are redirected to support domestic disaster response and recovery.