Pay FEMA Personnel Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced
Summary
Keeps FEMA workers paid during an appropriations lapse. This bill would create a temporary continuing appropriation for fiscal year 2026 that lets the FEMA Administrator use Treasury amounts not otherwise appropriated to cover pay, allowances, benefits, and other payments for FEMA personnel while FY2026 appropriations are not in effect.
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- FEMA personnel: Would ensure standard pay, differentials, allowances, and benefits continue for staff needed to carry out disaster response under the Stafford Act and related FEMA duties during a funding lapse, covering FY2026.
- Grant administration and recipients: Would let FEMA keep administering, awarding, and disbursing grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, and support all activities necessary to run FEMA grant programs.
- Federal funding mechanics: Would draw funds from Treasury amounts not otherwise appropriated and require those expenditures to be charged to the applicable appropriation once Congress enacts FY2026 funding. Authority would be retroactive to Feb 13, 2026, start covering payments Feb 14, 2026, and end on the earlier of enacted appropriations or September 30, 2026.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Keep FEMA pay and grants running
If enacted, this bill would let FEMA keep paying employees and running grant programs during any FY2026 funding lapse. It would allow the FEMA Administrator to use amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated starting February 14, 2026, to pay regular salaries, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other usual payments for staff carrying out the Stafford Act and for staff administering FEMA grants not related to the Stafford Act. The bill would also say FEMA could award and disburse grant funds during the lapse. Money spent under this authority would later be charged to the final appropriation when Congress enacts it.
Limit on how long authority lasts
If enacted, the bill would end the temporary pay and grant authority on the earliest of three dates: when Congress enacts any appropriation for those purposes; when Congress enacts a regular or continuing appropriations resolution or other Act that does not include such an appropriation; or September 30, 2026. That would limit how long FEMA could rely on the temporary Treasury funds.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov