America Grieves as Deadly Texas Floods Spark Political Storm Over Trump-Era Cuts
The United States is in shock after devastating floods tore through Texas, claiming the lives of over 100 people, including 27 children and counselors from an all-girls Christian camp. As the nation mourns, a fierce political battle is brewing over whether government cutbacks under Donald Trump’s administration weakened the National Weather Service (NWS) and hampered its ability to issue timely warnings.
While Democrats have urged a government watchdog to probe the NWS’s performance, Republicans have rallied behind Trump, applauding his federal disaster aid but dodging tough questions about the impacts of his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) and his push to gut FEMA.
“This just shows how broken the Republican Party has become,” said Rick Wilson, co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project. “They’re more worried about staying in Trump’s good graces than protecting the people they’re supposed to serve.”
Wilson didn’t hold back, blaming the Doge-driven job cuts and early retirements for gutting the NWS workforce. “These budget slashes have crippled forecasting ability—and now people have died. Yet not one Republican dares whisper even a soft critique of this administration’s choices,” he said.
The flash floods, among the most catastrophic in decades, ripped through central Texas early Friday morning, sweeping away sleeping campers from cabins, tents, and trailers. Survivors were found clinging to tree branches, while rescue teams continue searching for the missing. Authorities expect the death toll to rise.
Instead of facing tough questions, Republicans are taking a familiar route—offering praise and prayers while sidestepping any link between the tragedy and Trump’s policies or the broader climate crisis, a subject that remains off-limits in Trump’s political ecosystem.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott commended Trump’s response: “The president moved swiftly with a major disaster declaration that’s been essential to our emergency efforts.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed the sentiment, tweeting “Thank you @POTUS Trump” and telling Fox News that the NWS was already undergoing a technology overhaul under Trump. “It was neglected for years. President Trump identified the need and acted immediately when he took office in January,” she claimed.
Senator Ted Cruz chimed in on X (formerly Twitter): “President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs.” He added at a press conference, “Now is not the time for political division.”
Trump, meanwhile, took the opportunity to deflect responsibility. Asked whether he still plans to dismantle FEMA, Trump refused to commit and said he won’t re-hire federal meteorologists laid off due to sweeping budget cuts.
On Sunday, he told reporters, “That flood situation... that was set up by Biden. But I wouldn’t blame him either. It’s just a 100-year catastrophe.”
Yet, accountability questions are already piling up. Some Texas officials slammed the NWS, claiming it failed to properly alert communities in time.
In response, the NWS defended its actions, stating it had assigned additional forecasters to key offices over the holiday weekend. However, its San Antonio office has lacked top leadership since Paul Yura accepted early retirement—an offer extended by the Trump administration.
The Doge initiative, reportedly once led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, pushed for major staff cuts within the NWS, offering hundreds of meteorologists an early exit instead of facing dismissal.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has asked the Commerce Department’s inspector general to investigate whether vacancies at NWS's San Antonio office contributed to forecasting delays or errors. In turn, Republicans accused Democrats of using the tragedy to play politics.
But political strategist Rick Wilson fired back, saying the GOP’s behavior is driven by fear. “The Republican Party is paralyzed by Trump. They’d rather stay silent than risk being labeled disloyal—even if it means ignoring preventable deaths,” he said.
Some analysts warn that Republicans might soon face the political fallout. Last week, they approved Trump’s controversial Big, Beautiful Act (BBB)—a cost-cutting plan many believe is already hurting communities.
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, noted: “This is the future. Every tragedy—whether it’s a natural disaster or a mass shooting—will lead people to draw lines back to these deep Trump-era cuts.”
He added, “It might not damage Trump directly, but it should—and likely will—hurt Republican lawmakers in swing states and tight districts who backed these reckless policies.”