NOAA Budget Cuts to Blame for the Texas Flood Tragedy?

Trump Denies Responsibility for NOAA Budget Cuts
Debate Erupts Over Budget Cuts Following Texas Flood Disaster
Trump Rejects Link Between Cuts and Flood Warnings

The deadly floods in Texas, which have claimed at least 82 lives, have sparked intense debate.

This, over whether budget cuts to NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS) under President Donald Trump played a role in the scale of the tragedy.

As rescuers continue searching for missing individuals across the Hill Country region, the White House and meteorological experts have defended the NWS’s performance, stating that warnings were issued in sufficient time.

Over the weekend, President Trump rejected calls to investigate whether budget cuts left critical vacancies in forecasting offices.

Trump Denies Responsibility for NOAA Budget Cuts

Q: Are you investigating whether some of the cuts to the federal government left key vacancies at the National Weather Service?

Trump: That water situation that all is and that was really the Biden setup. That was not our setup. pic.twitter.com/G3VM9nLLgR

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) July 6, 2025

The NWS reported that it issued flash flood warnings in Texas on the night of July 3 and into the early hours of July 4, providing over three hours of advance notice before flood criteria were met.

Additionally, a flood watch was issued more than 12 hours in advance, according to the agency.

In a statement to Newsweek, the NWS expressed condolences for the lives lost in Kerr County and reaffirmed its commitment to serving the public with timely information and decision-making support.

Meteorologists like Avery Tomasco from CBS Austin noted on social media that the Austin/San Antonio office gave adequate warnings well ahead of the disaster.

Meanwhile, experts such as Matt Lanza and Alan Gerard agreed there’s no evidence that recent budget cuts compromised forecast quality in this specific event—though they acknowledged ongoing staffing challenges across the NWS.

Debate Over Vacancies and Cuts

Some experts warn that Trump’s staffing and budget cuts at NOAA and FEMA will negatively impact how the U.S. responds to hurricane season. pic.twitter.com/c5mvC8hMs6

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 31, 2025

Despite reassurances, debate continues. Reports have revealed that key NWS offices involved in the Texas flood response—Austin/San Antonio and San Angelo—are dealing with significant staffing gaps, including vacancies in emergency coordination meteorologist roles.

Last month, the agency admitted it is working to stabilize operations following workforce reductions approved during Trump’s prior term.

NBC News reported in May that NOAA was internally reorganizing staff and seeking to fill more than 150 critical positions.

According to the Associated Press, nearly half of NWS offices nationwide have vacancy rates of 20% or higher. Lawmakers such as Texas Democrat Joaquin Castro have called for investigations into whether these shortages impacted warning capabilities that might have prevented tragedy.

Trump, however, flatly dismissed any such connection. When reporters asked whether meteorologists whose positions were cut should be rehired, he responded: “I’d say no. This was something that happened in seconds. Nobody expected this. Nobody saw it coming.”

Trump Defends NWS Cuts, Plans to Visit the Area

The President attributed the disaster to an extreme weather event, describing it as a “once-in-100-years” occurrence that was impossible to predict. He defended the response of local and federal authorities.

The White House asserted that claims of deficiencies in NWS operations have been “repeatedly debunked” by experts and highlighted the efforts of first responders.

Meanwhile, reports indicate Trump plans to visit the affected areas on Friday, as large-scale search operations and humanitarian aid efforts continue in communities devastated by the floods.

The tragedy has once again exposed tensions surrounding federal funding for essential services like NOAA. Trump’s proposed 2026 budget reportedly includes additional cuts to NOAA funding, slated to take effect in October.