Federal Emergency Mobilization Accountability (FEMA) Workforce Planning Act
Requires FEMA to regularly assess its workforce needs and report on staffing, skills, hiring, training, retention, and disaster deployments.
In the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 13 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Emergency response depends on having a trained workforce ready to meet changing needs. The bill would require FEMA to regularly assess its staffing, skills, hiring, training, and retention needs in a plan submitted to Congress. The Comptroller General would review whether the plan meets the bill’s requirements.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Require recurring FEMA workforce plans
The FEMA Administrator would prepare and submit a human-capital operating plan to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Measure staffing needs and workforce gaps
The plan would assess staffing levels, skills needs, hiring goals, and expected losses from retirement and other attrition. It would include performance measures and explain barriers to meeting workforce goals.
- Set strategies for hiring, training, and retention
The plan would cover recruiting, developing, training, deploying, and retaining FEMA’s workforce, including strategies for the Surge Capacity Force. It would also address preventing and responding to discrimination and harassment, including reported cases and outcomes.
- Require a Comptroller General review
The Comptroller General would review whether the workforce plan meets the bill’s requirements and recommend changes to help ensure later plans meet them.
- Provide no additional authorized funding
The bill states that it authorizes no additional funds to carry out its requirements.
Emergency response depends in part on having workers with the skills and capacity to carry out FEMA’s responsibilities. The required planning and review would give Congress information about staffing needs, workforce gaps, and how FEMA is addressing them.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. Carter with 2 original cosponsorsReferred to Transportation and Infrastructure
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeSEP 24, 2026TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 13 daysNo hearing yet
- 13 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 13, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
In committee · Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs · 1 cosponsor · introduced by Gary C. Peters.
S. 444 is the same bill introduced in the Senate. Companion bills let both chambers work on one idea at once; when one passes, the other chamber often takes up the version that already passed.
OPEN S. 444 →Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. The smaller side has 1 member.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. The smaller side has 1 member.
Rep. Carter’s record: sponsored 31 bills this Congress. 4 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Mike EzellR-MS-4ORIGINAL
- Bennie G. ThompsonD-MS-2ORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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