White House Task Force Recommends FEMA Respond to Fewer Disasters

The recommendations come from a panel established by the administration to review federal disaster response operations. Officials said the changes could allow the agency to focus resources on the most severe events. The task force also proposed procedural adjustments intended to reduce the time between a disaster declaration and the distribution of federal assistance.

Some of the ideas would require action by Congress before they could be implemented. The task force stopped short of specifying exactly which types of incidents should no longer qualify for federal response.

The panel called for changes that it said would accelerate the processing of aid applications and reimbursements to state and local governments. According to the report, current procedures can delay recovery efforts by weeks or months in some cases.

The recommendations include streamlining documentation requirements and increasing coordination between federal agencies involved in disaster recovery. The task force suggested these steps could improve outcomes for communities affected by floods, wildfires, hurricanes and other events without increasing overall federal spending.

Officials noted that any reduction in the number of disasters receiving federal assistance would need to be balanced against potential burdens placed on state budgets. The report did not provide estimates for how many fewer declarations might occur under the new approach.

Any policy changes would affect how quickly and reliably federal resources reach affected residents, businesses and public infrastructure across the country.