David Richardson, Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator | Wikipedia
Negotiations are ongoing in Washington, D.C., as lawmakers work to prevent a federal government shutdown. If no agreement is reached by midnight, a partial shutdown will occur, affecting various federal services, including the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP).
The NFIP, overseen by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was last extended on March 15, 2025. This extension is set to expire on September 30, 2025. Should the program's authority lapse at midnight, FEMA will still be able to pay valid claims with existing funds. Current policies can remain active until their expiration date plus a 30-day grace period. Policies eligible for renewal must have applications submitted before September 30th and premiums paid within the grace period. New renewals will require Congressional reauthorization.
During this time, the federal mandate requiring flood insurance for properties in flood zones will be suspended. Lenders can decide independently whether to issue loans in these areas. Private flood insurance may serve as an alternative if lenders deem coverage necessary.
A coalition from the insurance, real estate, and banking sectors has urged Congress to act swiftly to extend the NFIP's authorization. The Independent Insurance Agents continue to advocate for its reauthorization through any available legislative means.
In contrast, the FCIP will not completely shut down due to its mandatory funding structure but will operate in a limited capacity during a government shutdown. Essential functions such as processing financial operations for approved insurance providers and maintaining crop insurance support will continue.
For more information on previous guidance issued by FEMA during lapses in program authorization, refer to their December 2024 memo: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/december-2024-guidance.
Information from this article can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up