Disasters Caused More Than $100 Billion in Damage in First Six Months of 2025 

Washington, D.C. – Since his first day in office, Trump has been gutting our disaster preparedness and response. He even eliminated federal tracking of these costly events, but new analysis shows that in the first six months of 2025, extreme weather disasters caused more than $100 billion in damage in the United States – the most expensive start to any year on record. Trump eliminated the tracking of the most costly extreme weather events, those that cause over $1 billion in damage, but Climate Central’s new database shows that there have been fourteen “billion-dollar” disasters in the first half of 2025. As extreme weather becomes more costly and devastating, Trump’s cuts are leaving local communities without the resources they need to recover.  

Climate Power Communications Director Alex Glass issued the following statement: “Trump can eliminate federal tracking systems, but he can’t erase facts. There’s never been a more costly year for extreme weather than 2025, and Trump’s policies are making it worse. Not only has he doubled down on his denial of science, but he’s gutted the National Weather Service and slashed staff and resources from the agencies that help our communities prepare for and recover from disasters. Trump’s reckless cuts are putting more people at risk of losing everything.”

During the most expensive start to any year on record, Trump gutted our disaster preparedness and response:

• Trump ended the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) tracking of the most costly extreme weather events – those that cause over $1 billion in damage. This data is critical for measuring the impacts of extreme weather disasters and preparing for future catastrophic events.
  
• Trump has shifted the burden of disaster preparedness to state and local governments, despite state and local officials saying they would be unable to make up the funds if federal aid were cut.
  
• Trump cut roughly 20% of the staff responsible for preventing and responding to disasters.
  
• Major disaster declarations are taking longer under Trump than under previous presidents – delaying and blocking critical aid.
  
• According to an internal agency review, FEMA was “not ready” ahead of hurricane season and was months behind schedule in its preparations.
  
• Trump cut disaster-response training for local and state emergency managers just before the start of hurricane season.
  
• Trump has eliminated door-to-door canvassing in disaster areas by federal relief workers. 

• Trump laid off hundreds of employees from NOAA, including hurricane hunters and researchers at the National Severe Storm Laboratory.
• Because of Trump’s massive cuts, the National Weather Service eliminated or reduced vital weather balloon launches, which degraded forecasts during previous storms and threatened life-saving weather alerts.