Don’t Buy the Spin: Trump Put Texas Flood Victims At Risk By Slashing Disaster Response

Washington, D.C.  — During his visit to Texas today, Trump will try to spin his administration’s response to the severe flooding that has killed at least 120 people, but let’s be clear: it’s been a failure from start to finish. Trump and Republicans – led by home state Senator Ted Cruz – slashed funding for weather forecasting that communities rely on during extreme weather events. The Trump officials who are responsible for managing federal disaster relief delayed critical aid for flood victims – putting more lives at risk. As extreme weather and climate disasters become more frequent and deadly, Trump’s gutting of our disaster response will put even more lives in danger.  

FIRST, TRUMP GUTTED FORECASTING AND DISASTER RESPONSE:

• USA Today: Dramatic budget cuts at NOAA could put weather forecasts in peril, lives in danger

• The Guardian: Ted Cruz ensured Trump spending bill slashed weather forecasting funding

• CNN: Trump appointees have ties to companies that stand to benefit from privatizing weather forecasts

• NOTUS: Trump Is Stalling on Giving Long-Term Disaster Money — Even for Texas

• CBS: Cuts to FEMA’s storm prep program hammer communities that voted for Trump

• Urban Institute: FEMA Is Eliminating Hazard Mitigation Programs, Leaving Americans Nationwide at Risk as Disasters Worsen

• KVUE: FEMA cuts Austin program aimed at natural disaster response

THEN, TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS ABANDONED TEXAS FLOOD VICTIMS: 

• New York Times: As Floods Hit, Key Roles Were Vacant at Weather Service Offices in Texas

• CNN: FEMA’s response to Texas flood slowed by Noem’s cost controls

• Axios: FEMA waited 3 days to send rescue crews to Texas: report

• BBC: Texans did not immediately receive flood alerts after request, audio reveals 

• NBC: FEMA records show Kerr County didn’t alert all cell phones as flooding began

• Politico: FEMA leader is a no-show after deadly Texas flooding

• New York Times: Ted Cruz Was Vacationing in Greece as Floods Devastated Texas

• The Guardian: Deadly floods could be new normal as Trump guts federal agencies, experts warn