This article responds to earlier discussions of federal economic development policy by Dick Thornburgh and Edward Hill, based on the authors’ experience at the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Both authors generally support continuing federal involvement in economic development. The authors of this article disagree with Thornburgh’s argument that fragmentation and redundancy among federal programs demand significant program consolidation. The authors agree with Hill’s argument that it is important to distinguish between community development and economic development. The authors also make an effort to summarize those areas where both Thornburg and Hill agree that further improvement in federal policy is needed and to discuss how the EDA is responding to these criticisms.
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