BREAKING: Trump’s NOAA Cuts Linked to Flood Deaths
Death toll reaches 67, including 21 children in Texas floods
As Texas reels from deadly flash floods that have claimed 67 lives, including 21 children, state and federal officials are sounding the alarm, not just about the rain, but about the failure of early warning systems they say were gutted by Trump-era cuts.
According to The Times, the National Weather Service (NWS) lost up to 15% of its staff after Donald Trump returned to office, with key forecasting centers like the San Angelo office severely understaffed. The mass loss of experienced meteorologists, many forced into early retirement, has left critical regions with degraded forecasting capacity.
To support Centered America, please consider becoming a paid subscriber today! It helps us fuel our mission and continue our work.
The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pushed through buyouts and layoffs that eliminated roughly 600 NOAA staffers in early 2025. That included a 10% workforce reduction and the closure of multiple satellite operations and training programs. A Daily Beast report confirms that these cuts directly affected Texas offices, which are now struggling to meet basic operational capacity.
These policies hollowed out the very agencies responsible for issuing life-saving flood warnings, at a time when climate disasters are intensifying.
Delays With Deadly Consequences
Flood alerts were issued only hours before the waters surged, giving families little time to evacuate.
The death toll stands at 67, with 850+ rescued and dozens still missing, including girls from Camp Mystic on the Guadalupe River.
Camp director Richard Eastland died trying to save campers, while President Trump declared Kerr County a federal disaster zone.
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has been accused of dismantling public safety infrastructure in the name of budget cuts. In his previous term, Trump repeatedly proposed slashing NOAA’s funding. In 2025, he delivered—leaving the country exposed just as climate-driven storms became more extreme.
Bottom Line: The Texas floods have exposed not just the fury of nature, but the dangerous cost of undermining public weather services. As the search for missing children continues and communities mourn, the question now turns to accountability—and whether the federal government will reverse course before another disaster strikes.
Sources: The Times, Axios, The Daily Beast, Newsweek, Reuters, Politico
Donate to Centered America today or become a paid subscriber!
OUR MISSION AT CENTERED AMERICA
Centered America is a 501(c)(4) organization founded to unite disillusioned Democrats, Republicans, overlooked communities, and everyday Americans to reform the Democratic Party into a party that truly represents them.
We are committed to upholding constitutional and democratic principles, fighting oligarchy and fascism, promoting activism, reporting the truth, and resisting the Trump administration’s dangerous agenda.
To achieve this, we focus on reconnecting with open-minded voters, addressing their concerns directly, reshaping the Democratic Party’s messaging, amplifying independent journalism, and providing resources that empower citizens to actively engage in protecting our democracy.
Contact Us
Email us at info@centeredamerica.org.
⸻
Thank you for fighting.
Sharad & Gavin | The Centered America Team
What a tragedy. So sorry for the loss of everyone especially the children 💔
They need to start filing lawsuits now!!!💯 Trump is responsible for all of this in Texas and other states. He squashed North Carolina's Bill to help Western North Carolina from Helene. We need to hold him accountable for everything he's done and is doing!!💯