WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas following the devastating and deadly floods that have ravaged the state, highlighting the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness after his cuts to the key weather and disaster response agencies have left critical forecast positions across the country vacant. It’s clear that Trump and his Republican allies have abandoned Americans facing natural disasters, undermining the early warning systems that save lives during natural disasters.
In response, Defend America Action Senior Spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite released the following statement:
“As President Trump visits Texas today, we must confront a devastating reality: the federal agencies responsible for predicting, preparing for, and responding to natural disasters have been systematically weakened and dismantled at the very moment when extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. The administration’s DOGE initiative has slashed FEMA and NOAA’s workforce and left nearly half of National Weather Service offices critically understaffed – all while zeroing out weather research funding and jeopardizing $74 million in disaster mitigation funding previously allocated to Texas.
“While Trump has pulled out every stop to give tax handouts for billionaires, he and his Republican allies in Texas have eroded and undermined infrastructure that protects families from natural disasters at every turn. At a bare minimum, Americans deserve leaders who will strengthen, not weaken, the systems designed to protect them when disaster strikes.”
BACKGROUND
- 10 percent of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s workforce, around 1,300 staffers and researchers, is gone under Trump.
- Just last week, Trump called for reducing NOAA’s workforce by a further 17 percent – more than 2,000 staffers and researchers.
- Trump slashed 20 percent of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s full-time staff and moved to freeze its funds.
- The Trump administration plans to phase out FEMA and completely zero-out NOAA’s weather research, weather laboratories, and tornado and severe storm research budget.
- Nearly half of National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices were “critically understaffed” with 20 percent vacancy rates due to Trump’s cuts as of April 2025.
- 25 percent of NWS stations lack a meteorologist-in-charge.
- GOP lawmakers in Texas, including state Republicans representing Kerr County, blocked a bill earlier this year that would have established a grant program for counties to build new emergency communication infrastructure, including outdoor warning sirens and emergency alert systems.
- Trump’s big, ugly bill included language added by Senator Cruz cutting millions in weather forecasting funding.
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