What's happened
Recent analysis shows that federal disaster declaration approvals under President Trump are taking longer than previous administrations, with delays averaging over a month. This impacts individuals and local recovery efforts, with delays growing over time regardless of political party. The White House defends the thorough review process.
What's behind the headline?
The prolonged delays in disaster declarations under President Trump reflect a shift towards more cautious and thorough reviews, as stated by White House officials. While this aims to ensure responsible use of federal funds, it results in significant wait times for aid, which can worsen community recovery. The trend of increasing delays predates Trump, indicating systemic issues within FEMA and federal disaster response protocols. The growing gap between requests and approvals suggests that the current process may need reform to balance thoroughness with timeliness. These delays disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, who rely on federal aid for immediate needs and rebuilding. The political narrative may obscure underlying bureaucratic challenges, but the core issue remains: longer approval times hinder effective disaster response and recovery, risking public trust and community resilience.
What the papers say
The AP News reports that Trump has approved over 30 major disaster declarations since January, with approval times ranging from 15 to 56 days. The AP analysis highlights that delays have increased over time, averaging 34 days under Trump, compared to less than two weeks in the 1990s and early 2000s. The Independent emphasizes that delays now average over a month, affecting aid for individuals and local governments, with some requests taking over two months. Both sources note that delays are consistent across political parties, with the AP citing that Biden's last year averaged 26 days, longer than Obama’s. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defends the process, claiming it is more thorough than ever, but critics argue it hampers recovery efforts and strains community resilience. The trend of increasing delays is a systemic issue, not solely attributable to any one administration, and reflects broader challenges within FEMA and federal disaster response protocols.
How we got here
Since 1990, federal disaster declaration approval times have increased from less than two weeks to over a month. Under Trump, the average delay has risen to nearly 34 days, compared to 24 days in his first term and longer than previous presidents. The delays affect aid distribution for individuals and hamper local recovery efforts, with the process now taking longer across both parties and administrations.
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