Maximizing Assistance To Respond to COVID-19

This memorandum directs FEMA to provide 100 percent federal cost sharing for COVID-19 emergency protective measures (Public Assistance Category B) under the Stafford Act, covering work performed from January 20, 2020 through April 1, 2022. It extends and expands federal reimbursement for pandemic response activities including National Guard support to states.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 64055

Impact dates

Apr 1, 2022
End date for eligible work coverage
Nov 9, 2021
FEMA implementation of 100% cost share

Key directives

FEMA shall provide 100% Federal cost share for all work eligible under Public Assistance Category B
Coverage includes work described in January 21, 2021 memorandum sections on National Guard and other assistance
Coverage period: January 20, 2020 through April 1, 2022
FEMA Administrator authorized and directed to publish in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

100% federal cost share takes effect for eligible Category B work

Near term (90d)

FEMA to implement reimbursement for ongoing eligible work through April 1, 2022

Long term

Coverage extends retroactively to January 20, 2020; no benefits beyond April 1, 2022

Risks & tensions

Subject to availability of appropriations may limit actual disbursement
Retroactive coverage to January 2020 may create administrative complexity for claims processing
Unclear if this supersedes or extends prior 75% or 100% cost share levels from earlier memoranda