Pay FEMA Personnel Act of 2026

Keeps FEMA staff and grants paid

This bill would provide money to keep FEMA staff paid during a FY2026 funding gap. It would take effect as if enacted on February 13, 2026, with funds available starting February 14, 2026. Money would come from the Treasury and pay regular wages, allowances, pay differentials, and benefits for required FEMA employees. Covered employees would include those doing disaster response under the Stafford Act. It would also cover FEMA staff who administer federal grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements not under the Stafford Act. The bill would also support other activities needed to administer every FEMA grant program. The Administrator would still be able to award and disburse grant funding during this period. Spending would be charged to the correct appropriation or fund. That would happen when Congress later enacts the matching appropriations. The authority would end on the earliest of three events: Congress enacts appropriations for these purposes; Congress enacts the relevant regular or continuing appropriations resolution or other Act without such appropriations; or September 30, 2026.