Executive Order Points Out What Has Always Been—But Who’s Got Our Back When We’re Overwhelmed?

By Todd T. De Voe, CEM
Editor in Chief, Emergency Management Network

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On March 18, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness.” The White House frames the directive as an effort to streamline federal preparedness policy and empower state and local governments to take the lead in protecting their communities from cyberattacks, natural hazards, and other disruptive events.

“Local leaders and citizens know their needs best—not bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.” – White House Statement

This may sound like a bold new direction, but for emergency managers, declaring that preparedness starts locally is about as revelatory as declaring the sun rises in the east. It has always started locally. The real issue isn’t where preparedness begins—it's what happens when local systems are overwhelmed. Who will step in then?

This executive order is more than symbolic. It represents a substantial policy realignment that redefines Washington’s role from national coordinator to strategic supporter when a disaster occurs. Depending on how it’s implemented and whether federal agencies provide adequate support to match these increased expectations, this shift empowers or exposes local governments.