Moskowitz Introduces FEMA Reform Bill to Allow States to Run Housing and Public Assistance Block Grant Programs

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressmen Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) and Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) introduced legislation to reform block grant programs under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and ensure critical federal assistance can more quickly be deployed to communities in need. His two bills, the Disaster Housing Flexibility Act of 2025 and the Disaster Response Flexibility Act of 2025, would operationalize block grants for housing assistance and public assistance, respectively, and would be voluntary for states to opt into.

“Bureaucracy at the Department of Homeland Security is getting in the way of FEMA fulfilling its core mission,” said Congressman Moskowitz. “Under DHS, FEMA has become a grant agency that also does emergency management, rather than an emergency management agency that also does grants. To cut red tape and improve FEMA’s effectiveness, we have to get it out of DHS—which my FEMA Independence Act does by reinstating FEMA as a Cabinet agency that reports directly to the President—and we have to get FEMA’s resources closer to the ground faster through block grants.

“I managed timber and citrus block grant programs in Florida after Hurricanes Michael and Irma as our state’s Emergency Management Director. State officials can do that with housing assistance and public assistance, too. By allowing states to deploy this critical disaster assistance through block grants, we can get it to communities in need faster than is done now.

“FEMA can’t be eliminated. Period! But we can save it by reforming it. These commonsense proposals—my FEMA Independence Act and my new legislation to expand FEMA’s block grant programs—will cut red tape, make disaster recovery more efficient, and help FEMA better deliver for the American people. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance these reforms and ensure FEMA and the critical assistance it provides are there when our communities need it.”

“Proud to work with my friend Jared Moskowitz to try and eliminate federal bureaucracy around disaster relief,” said Congressman Burchett.

Both Moskowitz’s Disaster Housing Flexibility Act and Disaster Response Flexibility Act create new block grant programs under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (“Stafford Act”). Once the President declares a major disaster declaration, the bills would allow a state to voluntarily apply for block grants covering housing assistance and/or public assistance like debris removal and infrastructure projects. For the grant to be distributed, the President would have to approve the application.

Under the bills, states that elect to receive a block grant may not receive other direct public assistance under the Stafford Act for the major disaster for which the block grant is provided. They may, however, request a single adjustment to the amount provided in the block grant if the initial amount proves insufficient to applicable recovery projects. Any funds that remain following recovery activity can be used for emergency preparedness or mitigation in the state. States that do not choose to pursue these block grant programs for housing assistance and/or public assistance would still be able to receive such federal support as it currently exists under the Stafford Act. Whether or not a state chooses to pursue block grants for housing assistance and/or public assistance, they would still be eligible for all other FEMA response, recovery, and assistance programs.

Moskowitz’s Disaster Housing Flexibility Act and Disaster Response Flexibility Act would also increase spending transparency by requiring that states submit to FEMA an initial recovery plan on anticipated use for funds and an annual report on funds spent, funds remaining, and an assessment of their impact for as long as they still have funds. FEMA’s Administrator would be tasked with reporting to Congress on states that have participated in the programs; how the programs and their resources have been implemented; and more.

Earlier this Congress, Moskowitz introduced his FEMA Independence Act, a bipartisan bill with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL-19) to restore FEMA’s status as an independent, Cabinet-level agency reporting directly to the President. The bill would also require that FEMA’s Senate-confirmed leader have “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” across the public and private sectors. Under the bill, FEMA would still carry out all responsibilities given to it prior to the enactment of the FEMA Independence Act, including under the Stafford Act.

Before entering Congress, Moskowitz served as Florida’s Director of Emergency Management from 2019-2021. In this role, Moskowitz oversaw disaster response and recovery for the DeSantis Administration for major events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Category 5 Hurricane Michael.

Since coming to Congress, Moskowitz has been a leading voice for fully funding FEMA, keeping emergency response nonpartisan, and enacting commonsense reforms to bolster federal emergency management. He has pushed the Trump Administration to safeguard critical FEMA programs that Florida communities depend on—like the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that deploys resources to protect houses of worship—and he is leading his colleagues to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to deliver more certainty to Florida homeowners and businesses. He has served as co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Caucus.

For more information on Moskowitz’s Disaster Housing Flexibility Act of 2025, click HERE.

For more information on Moskowitz’s Disaster Response Flexibility Act of 2025, click HERE.

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