Final answer:
The 1990s-era rollback of federal authority was driven by political conservatism, the movement towards privatization, and the devolution of power to states through initiatives like New Federalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1990s-era rollback of federal authority can be attributed to several factors:
- The political conservatism of the 1980s and 1990s, which aimed to limit the size and power of the federal government.
- The movement towards privatization and contracting, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, as a means to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy and increase efficiency.
- The devolution of power to states through initiatives like New Federalism, which sought to decentralize policies and give state and local authorities more discretion in using federal funds.