proposed changes to how fema provides aid

In the near future we will be reading much more on the topic of disaster aid to states and local communities. The Trump Administration has verbally proposed reducing disaster aid to states and requiring them to step up and bear more of the burden of disaster recovery costs for Public Assistance (PA) that focuses on governmental damages, e.g. roads, bridges, etc.

Now there is this report, Will Disaster-Stricken Communities Receive FEMA Aid? Proposed Changes to FEMA Public Assistance

It provides some history on PA and how shifting the financial burden has been tried in the past. But when the pig gets “stuck” it squeals” and those previous efforts were pushed back. Will a 400% increase in state’s responsibilities make it into law and practice? That is hard to tell, but I can say that Red States benefit much more from disaster recovery funds coming from the federal government than Blue States.

We’ll have to see how the “squealing” goes this time around.

As we have seen for this Administration, the President has a transactional approach to what he does. Rules, policies and laws don’t seem to get in the way of what he wants to accomplish or who he wants to reward.