USA FIRST Act

This bill, also called the “USA FIRST Act,” would move any unused money previously set aside for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) into FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. That fund pays for help after major disasters declared by the President, including response, recovery, and steps to reduce future damage. The shift uses already-appropriated but unspent USAID funds as of when the law takes effect, and directs them to disaster aid under the Stafford Act.

What this means in everyday terms: more money would be available for hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other big disasters here at home, and less would remain for USAID programs that hadn’t yet committed their funds.

• Who is affected: People in U.S. communities hit by major disasters; FEMA’s disaster programs; USAID programs with unspent funds.
• What changes: Unused USAID funds are transferred to FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund for disaster response, recovery, and mitigation.
• When: Applies to USAID funds that are still unobligated on the date the law is enacted.