Jared Moskowitz pushes bill to keep FEMA disaster funding going amid federal shutdown

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz has filed legislation to maintain funding for disaster payments during the federal shutdown.

The Parkland Democrat on Friday will file the Federal Emergency Management Continuity Act with U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a Louisiana Democrat.

The legislation would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue to disburse Disaster Relief Funding, even when there is no budget resolution approved by Congress to keep nonessential government operations open.

“During a government shutdown, communities hit by disaster shouldn’t have to worry that the resources they’re counting on to recover will go undelivered,” Moskowitz said.

“With this bill, families and businesses can have confidence that the funds they were promised will still be on their way, no matter what’s happening in Washington. Their recovery shouldn’t risk being put on hold just because Congress can’t do its job.”

Moskowitz served as Florida’s Director of Emergency Management before his election to Congress. He was the highest-ranking Democrat in Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. During his tenure from 2019 to 2021, Moskowitz oversaw state response to Hurricane Michael and to the COVID pandemic.

Since his election to Congress, Moskowitz has been part of bipartisan efforts to elevate FEMA as an independent agency responding directly to the President rather than keep it as a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

He filed his latest legislation on the 17th day of a federal shutdown.

While FEMA will still respond to disasters through the shutdown — as those immediate services are already deemed essential — many administrative services have been put on pause.

Additionally, FEMA has already reduced its workforce by 200 under Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, who has discussed eliminating the agency entirely and turning disaster response over to the states.

Carter said it was important for areas at risk of disaster to be able to count on the federal government.

“I’m proud to support this critical legislation that ensures FEMA will continue delivering vital disaster relief and recovery assistance without interruption — even during government shutdowns,” he said.

“Natural disasters and emergencies don’t wait for politics, and neither should our response. This bill safeguards the continuity of essential operations and protects the dedicated FEMA employees who make disaster recovery and response possible, ensuring that communities in crisis continue to receive assistance despite dysfunction in Congress.”