Trump shifts disaster preparedness to states and localities

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that transfers disaster preparation responsibilities from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to state and local governments. The order aims to improve infrastructure and preparedness policies across the country. According to the White House, this new approach will help states better address risks such as wildfires, hurricanes, and cyber attacks. The order also introduces a National Risk Register, which will identify and measure risks to national infrastructure. It intends to simplify how states can work with the federal government. Critics have raised concerns that the order may weaken disaster readiness in the U.S. Rob Moore from the Natural Resources Defense Council stated that the Trump administration has been gradually reducing the nation's ability to respond to disasters. He pointed out that around 1,000 FEMA employees have been let go, which could affect the country’s disaster response capabilities. Shana Udvardy with the Union of Concerned Scientists also expressed worry over the order. She argued that shifting responsibilities to local governments without clear federal support could leave communities with fewer resources to prepare for future disasters.