# 119-s-1246: FEMA Independence Act of 2025

119-s-1246, FEMA Independence Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1246
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1246
- Congress: 119
- Title: FEMA Independence Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-04-02
- Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Emergency Management
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**Turn FEMA into a standalone, cabinet-level emergency management agency** focused on an all-hazards mission of preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and resilience. The bill would create a single Director with authority to lead federal responses, consolidate federal plans into a single National Response Plan, and establish ten regional offices. - Families and disaster survivors: Would strengthen federal capacity to provide evacuations, food, water, shelter, medical care, and long-term resilience after major disasters. - State, local, and Tribal emergency officials: Would centralize federal planning and require interoperable communications and coordinated readiness for emergency support functions to make federal support clearer during catastrophic events. - Federal leaders and FEMA staff: Would create a President-appointed Director confirmed by the Senate who must have at least five years of executive leadership in public and five years in private sector roles, and would transfer FEMA functions to the new Agency one year after enactment with incumbents keeping pay and grade protections for at least that first year.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-05-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Expanded FEMA Response and Grants: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would direct the Agency to lead all-hazards mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Agency would position equipment and staff, help evacuate people, and provide food, water, shelter, and medical care during disasters. The bill would define 'hazard' to include majo…
- Make FEMA a Cabinet Department: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would make FEMA an independent Cabinet department. The change would take effect when FEMA functions move under section 6, not later than 1 year after enactment. The bill would repeal several Homeland Security Act sections that currently govern FEMA. It would also add the Agency…
- New FEMA Director and Deputies: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would create a Director to run the Agency, appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. The Director must have demonstrated emergency management and homeland security expertise and at least 5 years of executive experience in both the public and private sectors. The Pres…
- Transfer FEMA Functions and Staff: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would move all FEMA functions, personnel, assets, liabilities, contracts, records, and unexpended funds to the new Agency. The transfers must be carried out not later than 1 year after enactment, and DHS must assist during the transition. The bill would preserve ongoing legal p…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-199: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for the taxation of certain residents of Taiwan with income from sources within the…
- 119-s-1973: Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025
- 119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-1246 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1246)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-199: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-199)
- [119-s-1973: Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1973)
- [119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1816)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1246 (as of 2025-12-21).