Commentary:  As climate risks mount, disaster funding needs reset amid federal retrenchment

In a commentary published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, CEIP’s Sarah Labowitz and Katie Mears, a disaster recovery and philanthropy expert, argue that states and local governments must redesign disaster recovery systems as federal support becomes less predictable. They note that even as more than $300 billion in federal disaster recovery funds flowed to local authorities from 2005 to 2025, the recent “chaotic austerity” has reduced funding, delayed reimbursements, and weakened planning and mitigation efforts. The authors call for a shift from post-disaster rebuilding to resilience, adaptation, and preparedness through streamlined programs, stronger local leadership, cross-region collaboration, and increased engagement from philanthropy, communities, and private-sector partners.