President #Trump Says He Plans to Overhaul or Eliminate #FEMA.

According to our paper with @magontierp @mhenkelm, this is highly concerning.

In our paper—currently under a Revise & Resubmit at the Journal of Political Economy—we examine the political economy of disaster relief. Our findings reveal strong evidence that disaster aid decisions can be influenced by political considerations.

Key Takeaways from Our Study:

1. #Disaster Relief Should Be Apolitical: In an ideal world, disaster aid is allocated based on actual need and the severity of damage. However, our research suggests that when political motives drive relief decisions, it leads to inefficient and inequitable outcomes.

2. Implications of Defunding FEMA: If FEMA were eliminated or severely defunded, and its responsibilities shifted to either new agencies or direct presidential authority, it could increase presidential discretion in disaster relief allocation. Without FEMA’s (at least nominally) rules-based framework, there might be fewer institutional checks to guard against politically motivated spending decisions.

3. What’s at Stake: Undermining the autonomy of disaster-relief agencies threatens the safety and well-being of communities in crisis. Effective disaster response requires transparency, expertise, and structured decision-making—not short-term political gain.

Paper Link:
#Trump #FEMA