US Federal House Bill HR1035

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/26
• Refer: 2/3/26

Caption

Condemning Federal workforce reductions that undermine preparedness, response, and recovery, and expressing concern regarding proposed future staffing cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Impact

The passage of HR1035 would reinforce the necessity for a well-staffed FEMA, highlighting how chronic understaffing has hindered FEMA's performance in prior disaster responses. The resolution draws from previous disasters that revealed deficiencies in federal disaster staffing and underscores the importance of maintaining a robust and adequately resourced workforce to manage increased demands due to climate-related incidents. It aims to ensure that FEMA is equipped to respond to potential disasters without delays caused by staffing issues, ultimately supporting local, state, tribal, and territorial efforts in emergency management.

Summary

HR1035 is a resolution condemning proposed workforce reductions at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and expressing concern about future staffing cuts. The bill highlights the vital role FEMA plays in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, stressing that reductions in staff would severely undermine these functions. The resolution calls attention to FEMA's ongoing struggle with staffing shortages, which have historically compromised its ability to respond effectively to disasters, as well as the detrimental impact these cuts could have on community assistance programs following calamities like hurricanes and wildfires.

Contention

Notably, the bill criticizes the workforce reductions that occurred under the Trump Administration, which resulted in significant staffing losses at FEMA, exacerbating existing shortages. Advocates for the bill argue that such cuts not only threaten the agency's operational integrity but also endanger community safety during disasters. Critics of the cuts argue that maintaining a strong FEMA workforce should be a top priority for the federal government, particularly as the nation faces more frequent and severe disasters. The bill aims to establish a clear directive to support adequate resources for FEMA to ensure its essential services are preserved.