When the impact of an incident is so severe that the State, Territorial, Tribal, and local governments lack the capability to perform or contract eligible Emergency Work, the Recipient may request that the Federal Government provide this assistance directly. FEMA may task another Federal agency to perform or contract the work provided it is an eligible activity.

FEMA issues a "Mission Assignment" to task the work and refers to it as Direct Federal Assistance.

FEMA cannot task work that another Federal agency has its own authority to perform. Direct Federal Assistance has the same cost-share provisions applicable to the declaration.