The controversy continues to grow surrounding the White House funding and staffing cuts at the National Weather Service, and their impact on the tragic July 4 flash floods in Central Texas.
Many have raised questions about whether cuts to the NWS played a role in the tragedy after it was reported that the two NWS offices mostly closely involved in forecasting and warning about the flooding along the Guadalupe River—Austin-San Antonio and San Angelo—are missing key staff.
Since January 2025, under the Trump administration and its newly created “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), including the NWS, has endured sweeping reductions:
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Approximately 850–880 NOAA employees were terminated outright, with over 1,000 accepting buyouts or resigning .
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Many critical roles at local NWS offices, including those in Austin/San Antonio and San Angelo, remained vacant. In San Antonio, six of 27 positions were open, including the pivotal “warning coordination meteorologist”.
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DOGE’s FY 2026 budget proposals aim to eliminate NOAA labs key to forecasting advancements, including those managing weather balloon launches and flash-flood tools.
Critics argue staffing cuts hampered not only forecasting but critical coordination with local agencies, possibly reducing lead time and clarity for ground responders.
White House stance: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the NWS “did its job,” warning ahead of the event and attributing the tragedy to an “act of God”.
Lawmakers respond: Senate Minority Leader Schumer has formally requested an Inspector General investigation into whether staffing vacancies contributed to the disaster.