FEMA to cover 9/11 disability benefits for public workers
H.R. 10361 — To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse public employee retirement systems for accidental disability retirements and accidental deaths resulting from the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. · Filed by Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) · 8 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 14, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill would require FEMA to reimburse public employee retirement systems for disability retirements and death benefits paid to workers who were accidentally disabled or killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. The bill aims to shift the financial burden of these long-standing benefit obligations from state and local pension systems to the federal government.
Why we flagged it
The bill's stated purpose is to provide federal reimbursement for benefits already paid to public employees disabled or killed in the 9/11 attacks. This is a targeted benefit-allocation measure tied to a specific historical event and affected population.
What the text implies
- Reimbursement scope and timing are unknown from metadata — unclear whether FEMA would reimburse all historical payouts retroactively or only prospective claims, and whether appropriations exist.
- Impact on state and local pension fund solvency depends on reimbursement amount and timing; could materially affect municipal bond markets if large unfunded liabilities are transferred to federal budget.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
public employee retirement systems (state and local pension funds); affected 9/11 workers and their families (benefit recipients)