The USA FIRST Act would move unobligated funds that were appropriated to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) but have not yet been obligated for use (as of the date of enactment) into the Disaster Relief Fund. The transferred amounts would then be available to support major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. In short, unused foreign aid dollars would be redirected to domestic disaster relief efforts. The bill is narrow in scope: it does not create new spending, it simply reclaims unused USAID funds for disaster response and recovery. The bill was introduced in the House on February 14, 2025, by Rep. Brecheen (joined by Reps. Norman and Donalds) and referred to the Appropriations Committee. It defines the eligible funds as “covered funds” that are unobligated and previously appropriated to USAID as of enactment. If enacted, it would direct those unobligated funds to the Stafford Act’s Disaster Relief Fund to be used for major disasters under 42 U.S.C. 5170.
Key Points
- 1Transfers unobligated USAID funds to the Disaster Relief Fund to support major disasters under the Stafford Act.
- 2“Covered funds” means unobligated funds previously appropriated to USAID as of the date of enactment.
- 3The transfer applies specifically to major disasters declared under section 401 of the Stafford Act.
- 4The bill does not authorize new spending; it reallocates existing, unused appropriations.
- 5Introduced in the House by Rep. Brecheen (with Reps. Norman and Donalds) on February 14, 2025, and referred to the Appropriations Committee.