Pay FEMA Personnel Act of 2026

The Pay FEMA Personnel Act of 2026 aims to provide a stable funding source for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during periods when the federal government may be shut down due to a lapse in appropriations. By authorizing continuing appropriations, the bill seeks to ensure that FEMA employees receive their pay and that the agency’s essential disaster response and recovery operations remain functional regardless of broader budget disputes in Congress.

If enacted, the bill would protect the financial security of FEMA’s workforce, including permanent staff and on-call response teams, by preventing missed paychecks during a shutdown. For the general public, this measure is intended to maintain the federal government's readiness to respond to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, or floods, without the delays or staffing shortages that can occur when agency funding is interrupted.

This legislation was introduced in response to concerns about the impact of political gridlock on national emergency preparedness. It proposes to treat FEMA’s core functions as essential services that should remain funded even if other parts of the Department of Homeland Security or the wider federal government face temporary closures.