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

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says that beginning Sept. 15, it will no longer reimburse states for personal protective equipment for non-emergency settings including schools or courthouses.

Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

There was immediate consternation among the government officials on the call.

One state government official from the Midwest sought clarity on how the new regulations would relate to providing protective gear to teachers.

«Once an outbreak has occurred, then if we provide PPE that would be eligible, but not prior to?» the official asked. «Is that correct?»

Turi replied that cloth face coverings or PPE for teachers «are not eligible because they are related to the operating of facilities.»

«Even though teachers that on Aug. 18 were identified by [the federal government] to be essential workers?» the state official asked.

«There are costs that being incurred and required based on COVID, but they are all not necessarily emergency protective measures, and they’re not necessarily all FEMA-eligible,» Turi replied.

An official from a Southern state voiced a broader concern about what the withdrawal of federal funding for face masks would mean for ongoing efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

«Two of the biggest things we can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 are social distancing, which we’re having to learn to work around, so that we don’t have education loss, which can border on catastrophic. And the next thing they can do is wear a face mask,» the official said.

He also wanted to know if an order of masks that had been ordered for schools in his state but might not be received for months would be covered.

Turi replied that he could not speak to specific cases, that the state official should work with regional FEMA officials.

It’s not only face mask funding that will be affected.

The federal government will stop paying for some disinfection costs, unless they are considered an emergency protective measure, Turi said.

Another change: As of Sept. 15, FEMA will only provide stockpiling funding for a 60-day supply of PPE from the date of purchase. Previously, a specific date was not specified.

Some states may face a budget crunch as they try to carry out the protective measures necessary to reopen schools and other aspects of society. The policy is not retroactive, so it could lead to a swift stockpiling during the next two weeks as states rush to get purchases in under the wire.

• PPE
• FEMA