H.R. 5794 — FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025

This section authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, notwithstanding any other provision of law and during a lapse in appropriations, to (1) continue all disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund; (2) obligate and disburse Disaster Relief Fund balances for all existing and future disaster declarations, including individual and public assistance under sections 403 (essential assistance), 406 (repairs), 407 (debris removal), 408 (housing assistance), and 502 (federal emergency assistance) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and (3) maintain personnel and contract support necessary to ensure uninterrupted processing of claims and payments. (Thus, FEMA may continue Stafford Act disaster assistance without interruption despite a government shutdown.)

This section (1) makes all unobligated balances in the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)—FEMA's primary account for disaster assistance grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments—available to the FEMA Administrator for expenditure during a lapse in appropriations; and (2) prohibits withholding, sequestering, or reprogramming DRF funds during a lapse in appropriations, except as necessary to comply with the Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. 1341). (Thus, this enables continued DRF spending for disaster response during government shutdowns, subject to existing legal limits on obligations.)

This section exempts operations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized under this Act from Anti-Deficiency Act restrictions (31 U.S.C. 1341) during lapses in appropriations. (Thus, such operations are considered essential to protect human life and property.)