Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis ·
FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025 This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue certain disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown). Specifically, the bill authorizes FEMA to continue all disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF); obligate and disburse DRF balances for all existing and future disaster declarations, including individual and public assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and maintain personnel and contract support necessary to ensure uninterrupted processing of claims and payments. The bill also (1) requires all unobligated balances in the DRF to remain available to FEMA for expenditure during a lapse in appropriations; and (2) prohibits the funds from being withheld, sequestered, or reprogrammed during a lapse in appropriations, except as necessary to comply with the Antideficiency Act. Finally, the bill specifies that, for the purposes of the Antideficiency Act, the FEMA operations authorized by this bill must be considered essential to protect human life and property and are exempt from government shutdown restrictions.
Market Impact Map
Action Timeline
2025-12-01
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
2025-10-21
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
2025-10-21
Introduced in House
2025-10-21
Introduced in House
Full Bill Text
119 HR 5794 IH: FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives 2025-10-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5794 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 21, 2025 Mr. Bell (for himself, Mr. Moulton , and Mr. Fields ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to continue disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund in the event of a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025 . 2. Continuation of FEMA operations during a lapse in appropriations Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the event of a lapse in appropriations, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall be authorized to— (1) continue all disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund; (2) obligate and disburse Disaster Relief Fund balances for all existing and future disaster declarations, including individual and public assistance under sections 403, 406, 407, 408, and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170b , 5172, 5173, 5174, and 5192); and (3) maintain personnel and contract support necessary to ensure uninterrupted processing of claims and payments. 3. Use of Disaster Relief Fund (a) Availability All unobligated balances in the Disaster Relief Fund shall remain available to the Administrator for expenditure during a lapse in appropriations. (b) Prohibition on diversion No funds from the Disaster Relief Fund may be withheld, sequestered, or reprogrammed during a lapse in appropriations, except as necessary to comply with section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘Anti-Deficiency Act’). 4. Exception from government shutdown restrictions For purposes of section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘Anti-Deficiency Act’), operations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized under this Act shall be considered essential to protect human life and property, and therefore exempt from shutdown restrictions.
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