US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

6 U.S.C. § 313

Federal Emergency Management Agency

(a)

In general

There is in the Department the Federal Emergency Management Agency, headed by an Administrator.

(b)

Mission

(1)

Primary mission

The primary mission of the Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.

(2)

Specific activities

In support of the primary mission of the Agency, the Administrator shall—
(A)
lead the Nation’s efforts to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including catastrophic incidents;
(B)
partner with State, local, and tribal governments and emergency response providers, with other Federal agencies, with the private sector, and with nongovernmental organizations to build a national system of emergency management that can effectively and efficiently utilize the full measure of the Nation’s resources to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including catastrophic incidents;
(C)
develop a Federal response capability that, when necessary and appropriate, can act effectively and rapidly to deliver assistance essential to saving lives or protecting or preserving property or public health and safety in a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;
(D)
integrate the Agency’s emergency preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation responsibilities to confront effectively the challenges of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;
(E)
develop and maintain robust Regional Offices that will work with State, local, and tribal governments, emergency response providers, and other appropriate entities to identify and address regional priorities;
(F)
under the leadership of the Secretary, coordinate with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Director of Customs and Border Protection, the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the National Operations Center, and other agencies and offices in the Department to take full advantage of the substantial range of resources in the Department;
(G)
provide funding, training, exercises, technical assistance, planning, and other assistance to build tribal, local, State, regional, and national capabilities (including communications capabilities), necessary to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;
(H)
develop and coordinate the implementation of a risk-based, all-hazards strategy for preparedness that builds those common capabilities necessary to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters while also building the unique capabilities necessary to respond to specific types of incidents that pose the greatest risk to our Nation; and
(I)
identify, integrate, and implement the needs of children, including children within under-served communities, into activities to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other disasters, including catastrophic incidents, including by appointing a technical expert, who may consult with relevant outside organizations and experts, as necessary, to coordinate such integration, as necessary.
(c)

Administrator

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(2)

Qualifications

The Administrator shall be appointed from among individuals who have—
(A)
a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security; and
(B)
not less than 5 years of executive leadership and management experience in the public or private sector.
(3)

Reporting

The Administrator shall report to the Secretary, without being required to report through any other official of the Department.

(4)

Principal advisor on emergency management

(A)

In general

The Administrator is the principal advisor to the President, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary for all matters relating to emergency management in the United States.

(B)

Advice and recommendations

(i)

In general

In presenting advice with respect to any matter to the President, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary, the Administrator shall, as the Administrator considers appropriate, inform the President, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary, as the case may be, of the range of emergency preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation options with respect to that matter.

(ii)

Advice on request

The Administrator, as the principal advisor on emergency management, shall provide advice to the President, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary on a particular matter when the President, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary requests such advice.

(iii)

Recommendations to Congress

After informing the Secretary, the Administrator may make such recommendations to Congress relating to emergency management as the Administrator considers appropriate.

(5)

Cabinet status

(A)

In general

The President may designate the Administrator to serve as a member of the Cabinet in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.

(B)

Retention of authority

Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary under this chapter.

Pub. L. 107–296, title V, § 503Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 611(11)120 Stat. 1396Pub. L. 117–130, § 3136 Stat. 1229(, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 107–296116 Stat. 2135section 101 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (c)(5)(B), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 107–296, title V, § 503116 Stat. 2213Pub. L. 108–276, § 3(c)(3)118 Stat. 853Pub. L. 109–417, title III, § 301(c)(2)120 Stat. 2854Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 611(3)120 Stat. 1395A prior section 313, , , ; , , ; , , , related to the transfer of certain functions to the Secretary of Homeland Security, prior to repeal by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 117–1302022—Subsec. (b)(2)(I). added subpar. (I).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 612(c)120 Stat. 1410

“Any reference to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruction, or other official paper shall be considered to refer and apply to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 612(f)(2)120 Stat. 1411

“Any reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in this title [see Tables for classification] or an amendment by this title shall be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

section 614(b)(1) of Pub. L. 109–295section 701 of this titleSection effective , see , set out as a note under .