House introduces bipartisan FEMA reform bill to streamline disaster relief

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669), aiming to modernize and reform FEMA and federal disaster relief programs comprehensively. The bill proposes making FEMA a cabinet-level agency reporting directly to President Trump, instead of being under the Department of Homeland Security, to increase accountability and streamline disaster response and recovery. Key provisions include simplifying the grant application process, incentivizing state and local preparedness, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and providing a single assistance application to cut down on paperwork. The legislation also explicitly prohibits political discrimination in disaster relief, following reports that FEMA employees directed emergency responders to skip homes of Trump supporters. Lawmakers emphasized the need for a faster, more equitable, and efficient emergency management system that better meets the needs of disaster survivors and local officials. However, the bill's future in the House and Senate remains uncertain amid ongoing debates about FEMA's role and structure under the Trump administration.