President Issues Executive Order to Shift Disaster Preparedness to State and Local Governments

Federal Policy Shift Towards Local Control

In a sweeping new executive order, President Trump has directed federal agencies to overhaul national resilience policies, shifting greater responsibility for disaster preparedness and critical infrastructure management to state and local governments. The order aims to streamline federal involvement while empowering local decision-makers to mitigate risks such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, and other national security threats. The executive order emphasizes that preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the state, local, and even individual levels, arguing that federal policy should provide support rather than dictate local strategies. According to the White House, this move is intended to enhance efficiency, reduce taxpayer burdens, and improve the overall resilience of American communities.

Key Directives of the Executive Order

The order directs several key actions, including the development of a National Resilience Strategy within 90 days by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), which will outline priorities for strengthening infrastructure against both natural and human-made threats. Additionally, federal agencies must reassess existing regulations to transition from an all-hazards approach to a risk-based model, focusing on actionable solutions rather than broad information-sharing initiatives. The administration will also reevaluate emergency preparedness and continuity policies to ensure they align with current threats, and within 240 days, a comprehensive assessment of risks to national infrastructure will be developed to guide future intelligence, private investment, and state planning efforts.

Review of Existing Policies

As part of this overhaul, several key national security and infrastructure policies will be reviewed for potential revision or repeal, including:

• Executive Order 14017 (America’s Supply Chains, 2021)
• Executive Order 14123 (White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, 2024)
• National Security Memorandum 16 (Food and Agriculture Security, 2022)
• Presidential Policy Directive 8 (National Preparedness, 2011)
  The administration has also explicitly stated that policies related to so-called misinformation and cognitive infrastructure will not be included in this review, citing Executive Order 14149, which restricts federal involvement in speech-related regulations.

Reactions and Implications

The executive order has been met with mixed reactions. Advocates of decentralized governance have praised the move as a necessary step to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and enhance community-level decision-making. On the other hand, Critics argue that shifting responsibility away from the federal government may leave some states without the necessary resources to respond effectively to major disasters. As many states rely on federal guidance and funding to manage large-scale emergencies and without a clear plan for federal support, this could lead to disparities in disaster response across the country.

Looking Ahead

With multiple agencies now tasked with reviewing and updating resilience policies, the administration has set a series of deadlines to ensure timely implementation. The National Resilience Strategy is expected within 90 days, with additional policy reviews completed over the next year. As the federal government moves to redefine its role in disaster preparedness, state and local leaders will likely play an increasingly significant role in shaping the future of national resilience efforts.