From Administrative Burden to Participation and Compliance: Local Discretion in Federal Assistance Program Delivery

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

Administrative burden and discretion play critical roles in shaping access, participation, and compliance within federally funded assistance programs. This panel brings together three empirical studies that examine how administrative practices and policy design at the local level influence equity and effectiveness in the implementation of federal programs from the perspective of individual, community, and organization levels. Focusing on federally supported housing assistance programs and disaster recovery grants, specially from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), these papers highlight both the intended and unintended consequences of administrative burden and discretion for marginalized communities, organizational actors, and citizen engagement.

The first paper, “Who gets to wait? Uncertainty in Waiting List Openings for the Housing Choice Voucher Program,” investigates how local housing authority discretion in managing waiting lists determines who receives federal housing assistance. It reveals that unpredictable and brief openings intensify barriers for disadvantaged households, altering access and outcomes. The second paper, “Administrative Design and Political Integration of Citizen Participation in Local Governments,” examines variation in how local governments structure federally mandated participation in HUD's grant programs. Findings show that simply expanding participation methods does not guarantee policy influence; instead, meaningful impact arises when participation is integrated into administrative and political processes. The third paper, “Reducing Administrative Burden at the Organizational Level: Evidence from FEMA’s Simplified Procedures,” shifts focus to public and nonprofit organizations adapting to procedural changes in disaster recovery grants. This study demonstrates that while initial reforms may raise learning costs, streamlined compliance ultimately improves efficiency and highlights the importance of clear guidance in implementing federal rules.

Together, these papers provide a nuanced discussion of how administrative burden and discretion intersect with participation and compliance in federal assistance programs. The panel offers key insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers aiming to enhance equity and effectiveness by addressing barriers and opportunities in program implementation at the local level.

Policy Area

• Public and Nonprofit Management and Finance

Chair

• Sebastian Jilke, Georgetown University

Discussant

• Jennifer Stoloff, Econometrica, Inc.

Organizer

• Jeehee Han, Texas A&M University

Individual Presentations

• Who gets to wait? Uncertainty in Waiting List Openings for the Housing Choice Voucher Program - Presenting Author: Jeehee Han, Texas A&M University; Presenting Author: Jonghoon Lee, Texas A&M University

• Administrative Design and Political Integration of Citizen Participation in Local Governments - Presenting Author: Anne R Williamson, Miami University

• Do Administrative Reforms Improve Agency Performance? Vetting, Coordination, and Inequality in FEMA Responsiveness - Presenting Author: Sohee Kim, University of Georgia

• When Federal Capacity Declines: How States Absorb, Adapt, or Lose Administrative Capacity in SNAP - Presenting Author: Sungjin Lee, San Diego State University