The time it has taken for U.S. presidents to declare natural disasters and provide federal funding has dramatically increased in recent decades, with the Trump administration's response time being more than four times longer than it was 25 years ago, according to the Associated Press.

Newsweek reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via email for comment.

Why It Matters

FEMA is an agency that leads the federal response to natural disasters , coordinating with state and local governments and providing assistance to individuals, families, and businesses affected by events such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires.

Delayed federal disaster declarations can constrain local and state recovery efforts by postponing access to federal financial assistance, search-and-r

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