FEMA Says It Will Stop Paying For Cloth Face Masks For Schools

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it will no longer pay for some safety measures related to COVID-19 that it had previously covered.

Keith Turi, FEMA assistant administrator for recovery, announced the changes during a call Tuesday with state and tribal emergency managers, many of whom expressed concerns about the new policy.

Under the new guidance, FEMA will generally not reimburse states for the costs of cloth face coverings or personal protective equipment in nonemergency settings, including schools, public housing and courthouses. The policy goes into effect on Sept. 15.

The changes narrow what constitutes an "emergency protective measure" and is thus eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program.

A recording of the call was provided to NPR by a government official responsible for emergency funding. The official is not authorized to speak to the media and is concerned about a possible job loss for doing so.

Going forward, Turi explained, cloth face masks and personal protective equipment in nonemergency settings will be classified as "increased operating costs" for public services and will not be covered by the fund.