Foreign Disaster Assistance
Orders Secretary of Defense to Provide Foreign Disaster Assistance
What it does
The Secretary of Defense must provide disaster assistance abroad to save lives, following Presidential direction, State concurrence, or immediate emergency action with later concurrence.
Real-world impact
- Enables the U.S. military to deliver disaster aid overseas to save lives.
- Requires coordination with the Secretary of State before non-emergency assistance.
- Allows immediate action in emergencies, with later State Department concurrence.
Topics
Summary
This order directs the Secretary of Defense to provide disaster assistance outside the United States to respond to manmade or natural disasters when necessary to prevent loss of lives.
Such assistance may be given at the President's direction, with the Secretary of State's concurrence, or immediately in emergencies without prior concurrence; the Defense Secretary must seek State approval as soon as practicable afterward.
The Defense Secretary must consult the head of the Agency for International Development, and the order clarifies it does not change other legally authorized programs.
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