Americans have endured years of frustration with disaster response efforts. When catastrophes strike, communities often wait helplessly for federal assistance. Bureaucratic red tape frequently delays critical aid. Essential resources get tied up in administrative processes.

Families lose homes. Communities suffer. Hope fades.

All while waiting for Washington to act.

President Donald Trump is changing that approach. He signed an executive order Monday that fundamentally transforms how America responds to disasters. Indeed, he’s putting states and local communities back in control.

“This Order restores state, local, and individual empowerment in disaster preparedness and response, and injects common sense into infrastructure prioritization and strategic investments through risk-informed decisions that make our infrastructure, communities, and economy more resilient to global and dynamic threats and hazards,” read details on the order.

The order represents a significant shift in America’s disaster management philosophy. Rather than centralizing control in Washington, Trump’s order emphasizes that states, localities, and individual leadership should take primary responsibility for preparing for and responding to disasters like floods and fires.

The executive order will “streamline” federal functions, making it easier for local communities to work with federal officials when necessary. It establishes a National Resilience Strategy that will outline priorities for advancing national resilience while identifying risks to key infrastructure.

Putting States in the Driver’s Seat

Trump’s new approach replaces the federal government’s “all-hazards” method with a “risk-informed approach” that prioritizes “resilience and action over mere information sharing.”

This shift aligns with Trump’s consistent message about disaster response. Shortly after his inauguration, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity that “FEMA has not done their job for the last four years” under the Biden administration. He expressed his preference for “states to take care of their own problems” rather than relying on federal agencies.

The order continues Trump’s efforts to “shift power from Washington to the American people,” a core principle of his administration’s governance philosophy.

Fixing FEMA’s Failures

FEMA’s performance came under intense scrutiny in 2024 when Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina, killing more than 100 people and destroying countless homes and businesses.

The Biden administration faced fierce criticism for its handling of the emergency. Trump accused the agency of obstructing relief efforts in Republican areas, highlighting concerns about political bias in disaster response.

In January, Trump established a FEMA Review Council to “drastically” improve the agency. That executive order noted that despite spending nearly $30 billion in disaster aid annually for three years, “FEMA has managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most.”

This latest executive order represents a return to traditional American values of federalism and local control. Throughout American history, communities have solved problems locally before seeking federal intervention.

The approach recognizes that state and local officials understand their communities’ unique needs better than federal bureaucrats in Washington. It empowers those closest to disasters to make critical decisions quickly.

By streamlining federal processes, the order removes barriers that have historically prevented efficient disaster response. Communities can now access necessary resources without navigating complex federal requirements.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump’s order shifts disaster response control from federal bureaucrats to state and local officials who understand community needs.
• The new “risk-informed approach” prioritizes action over paperwork, speeding up relief when disasters strike.
• FEMA’s $30 billion annual spending failed to help vulnerable Americans under Biden’s administration.
• Communities can now access disaster resources without navigating complex federal requirements.

Sources: Fox News