What did Trump do on March 19th, 2025?
fresh off the presses - by watchdog.fyi
Here’s what Trump did today:
White House Shifts Disaster Preparedness to States in Major Policy Overhaul
Summary:
The White House is reshaping how America prepares for disasters, shifting responsibility from Washington to states, local governments, and even individuals. President Trump's latest executive order calls for a National Resilience Strategy within 90 days, aiming to make infrastructure more resilient against cyberattacks, wildfires, and hurricanes. In a sweeping overhaul, the administration is also reviewing critical infrastructure policies within 180 days to replace outdated strategies with a risk-based approach. Meanwhile, national continuity and preparedness policies will be reassessed within 180 and 240 days, respectively, to streamline emergency response and cut federal inefficiencies. A National Risk Register, due in 240 days, will track emerging threats and guide both government and private sector decisions.
The order also demands a one-year review of national preparedness functions, instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security to simplify overlapping federal disaster frameworks. The administration argues this will reduce bureaucracy and taxpayer costs while giving states more control. However, some worry it could leave local governments underprepared when disaster strikes. Notably, policies related to misinformation, disinformation, and cognitive infrastructure are excluded from the infrastructure review, signaling a shift in federal priorities. With the National Resilience Strategy set to become America's new crisis response blueprint, the big question is whether this decentralization will lead to smarter spending or greater risk.
The Takeaway: The federal government is stepping back, leaving states to handle disaster preparedness. Whether this creates efficiency or chaos remains to be seen.
have a splendid day,
watchdog team