Congressman Carter, Moskowitz Fight to Replenish the Disaster Relief Fund as GOP Petty Power Struggles Undermines FEMA’s Readiness

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) introduced the Allocating for Disaster Urgency and Long-term Tenability (ADULT) Act, which replenishes essential funding through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to maintain FEMA's disaster response capacity. Specifically, this bill allocates funding to the DRF at $26,367,000,000 - the same level as was included in the bipartisan Senate agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY27.

"Storms don't discriminate and it's more important than ever that we put people over politics to save lives and prepare our communities," said Rep. Carter. "By replenishing FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, we're ensuring that the federal government isn't only responding to current disasters, but also actively rebuilding from past events and mitigating future disasters. If Congressional Republicans can't figure out how to fund DHS, they should at least provide funding for FEMA to continue vital operations."

Internal Republican divisions have caused the longest partial government shutdown in federal history, which began on February 14, 2026, and is still ongoing. After 42 days of infighting, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill to fund most of DHS, but House Republicans have refused to vote on the deal. Throughout the standoff, FEMA operated without its annual funding, and the Disaster Relief Fund, the primary federal source for disaster response and recovery, has been driven to dangerously low levels. Now, with hurricane season, wildfire season, and major national events like the FIFA World Cup approaching, FEMA's ability to prepare and coordinate is severely limited.

"Let's be clear: disasters don't wait for Congress to get its act together. They can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time, which is why the Disaster Relief Fund is so vital," said Rep. Moskowitz. "The DRF is FEMA's lifeline, helping families rebuild in the moments they need it most. Replenishing this critical fund isn't political, it's necessary. The Allocating for Disaster Urgency and Long-term Tenability Act does exactly that to ensure that when Americans need help, the federal government is ready to deliver."

"With each passing day of the funding lapse, the capacity to support disaster survivors and communities becomes more constrained," said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the FEMA Administrator, Karen S. Evans. "The Disaster Relief Fund is critical to FEMA's ability to respond quickly when disaster strikes and to help communities rebuild stronger."

Background:

The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is FEMA's primary source of funding for disaster response and recovery operations under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It supports:

• Individual Assistance - Direct support for families and individuals.
• Public Assistance - Funding to state, local, tribal governments, and nonprofits for debris removal, rebuilding, and infrastructure repair.
• Hazard Mitigation Grants - Investments that reduce future disaster risks.

Because the DRF is a no-year fund, its unspent balances roll over to future years-critical for long-term recovery efforts.

Per FEMA, if the DRF reaches full depletion:

• FEMA will stop funding non-lifesaving/life-sustaining disaster recovery efforts.
• Disaster reimbursements to states and local governments will stop.
• Non-life-saving mission assignments, field operations, and surge staffing will halt.
• FEMA will be unable to pay staff or cover operational costs, halting response to major disasters and security incidents.
• FEMA's ability to coordinate federal consequence management after catastrophic incidents, including terrorist attacks, will not be available.
• Over 10,000 mission-essential FEMA employees and more than 1,000 deployed reservists will be ordered to stop working, with no pay or back pay for time missed due to funding interruptions.

Reps. Carter and Moskowitz are the co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Caucus, which they formed in 2023. The caucus works across the aisle to advance legislation and policies that provide efficient, equitable relief for disaster survivors and promote measures for impacted communities to recover fully. The caucus also advocates for disaster preparedness and programs that help save lives while readying America's communities for future incidents.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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