FEMA Critical Staffing Act

The FEMA Critical Staffing Act would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to use existing appropriated funds to immediately restore certain staff who were involuntarily separated from FEMA during a defined period (January 20, 2025, through the date of enactment), if those individuals elect reinstatement. The bill also directs FEMA to continue operating programs that support state and local preparedness and response to extreme weather, and to reinstate two key mitigation programs—the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program—within 30 days of enactment, ensuring continued access to these resources. It uses language that overrides other laws to expedite staffing restoration and program continuity. The stated purpose centers on strengthening FEMA’s ability to monitor weather, respond to disasters, and support recovery by restoring staffing levels and preserving critical mitigation programs in the face of climate-related disasters. While it does not create new funding, it requires the agency to use existing appropriations to achieve these staffing and program restoration goals.