FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025

The FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025 would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to maintain disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations during a lapse in appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown. Currently, such shutdowns can disrupt FEMA's ability to process disaster assistance claims and payments. This bill would allow FEMA to continue using its Disaster Relief Fund to support ongoing operations, including individual and public assistance programs under federal disaster law, and to maintain the personnel and contractors needed to process claims without interruption.

The bill would also require that unobligated balances in the Disaster Relief Fund remain available to FEMA during a shutdown and prohibit those funds from being withheld or redirected, except as required by federal anti-deficiency laws. By designating FEMA operations as essential to protecting human life and property, the bill would exempt these activities from standard government shutdown restrictions. If enacted, this would mean disaster survivors could continue receiving assistance and FEMA could continue its work even when Congress has not passed a budget and other federal agencies have ceased operations.

The bill was introduced in October 2025 and is currently under consideration by a House subcommittee. It has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.