H.R. 5794 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Oct 21, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryFEMA can continue disaster relief during shutdowns
When the federal government runs out of money and shuts down, FEMA normally has to pause its work. This bill would let FEMA keep running disaster relief, recovery, and rebuilding operations even during a shutdown. It would allow FEMA to keep spending money from its disaster fund, pay its staff, and process claims for people and communities affected by disasters.
How it affects you
If you've been through a disaster and are waiting for relief money or assistance from FEMA, this bill means your claim could keep getting processed and paid even if the government shuts down. Communities recovering from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other disasters would not see their rebuilding efforts stall during a shutdown.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Oct 21, 2025)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 5794
A BILL
FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO-1) · Introduced Oct 21, 2025 · Emergency Management · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 1, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.”