Donald Trump Grilled About NWS Cuts After Deadly Texas Floods

President Donald Trump was asked about cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) after deadly Texas floods left at least 80 people dead.

Speaking to reporters, the president dismissed concerns that there needs to be extra staff at the weather service and said the floods were an unexpected “once in a 100 years” event.

The NWS told Newsweek that Flash Flood Warnings were issued on the night of Thursday July 3 and in the early morning of Friday July 4

Why It Matters

Flash floods in Texas’ Hill Country, which began on Friday, have killed at least 80 people while other remain missing or displaced, after the Guadalupe River surged by more than 20 feet in 90 minutes.

The NWS, which issues forecasts and weather warnings, has lost approximately 560 workers earlier this year amid Trump’s desire to streamline government services and save money. The flooding has raised questions about these cuts and the extent to which there is disaster preparedness in Texas and other states in the U.S.

What To Know

A reporter in New Jersey on Sunday asked Trump: “In light of the floods, do you think the federal government needs to hire back any of the meteorologists who were fired…?”

“I would think not,” he said. “This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it. Very talented people are there, they didn’t see it. Its I guess they said once in a 100 years they’ve never seen anything like this.”

On Sunday, Trump approved a “Major Disaster Declaration” for Kerr County, unlocking federal assistance for rescue and recovery operations.

Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the union representing NWS workers, the National Weather Service Employees Organization, told the New York Times on Saturday that the San Angelo office was missing a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist. The office is responsible for some areas that were hit by the flash flooding

Texas Emergency Management Chief W. Nim Kidd told reporters at a Friday press conference that the NWS did not accurately predict the amount of rain Texas saw, saying “the amount of rain that fell in this specific location was never in any of the [initial forecasts on Wednesday].”

However, the NWS offices in Texas did issue warnings ahead of the floods and The Associated Press, citing a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office, reported the NWS had extra staff on duty during the storm.

In early June, a spokesperson for the weather service, Erica Grow Cei, told Newsweek that the agency was planning to hire additional staff members to “stabilize” the department.

What People Are Saying

The National Weather Service in a statement to Newsweek: “The National Weather Service is heartbroken by the tragic loss of life in Kerr County. On July 3, the NWS office in Austin/San Antonio, TX conducted forecast briefings for emergency management in the morning and issued a Flood Watch in the early afternoon. Flash Flood Warnings were issued on the night of July 3 and in the early morning of July 4, giving preliminary lead times of more than three hours before warning criteria were met.”

It added: “The National Weather Service remains committed to our mission to serve the American public through our forecasts and decision support services.”

President Donald Trump’s Truth Social message on Saturday: “The Trump Administration is working with State and Local Officials on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic flooding that took place yesterday. Our Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly. Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”

What Happens Next

Rescue operations will continue. Governor Greg Abbott said Sunday afternoon there were 41 missing people still unaccounted for because of the floods. More rain is forecast in central Texas meaning the risk of flooding remains high.