CNN What Matters Trump’s government cuts and the catastrophe in Texas: Here’s what we know
Analysis by Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 4 minute read, Published 5:47 PM EDT, Mon July 7, 2025
A large truck is impaled onto a tree after flash flooding on the bank Guadalupe River on July 5, in Center Point, Texas. Jim Vondruska / Getty Images
CNN — President Donald Trump’s approach to the federal government has been to cut, cut, cut, which means when there is a disaster in which the government plays a role, he will have to expect questions about those cuts.
When the administration quietly backtracks on some layoffs and struggles to re-fill key positions, it will lead to concerns that cuts went too far.
When there’s a tragic flood that catches an area off-guard, the effect of his cuts on the National Weather Service and FEMA will become a line of inquiry.
The disaster in Texas continues
Flash floods killed at least 95 people over the July Fourth holiday, and many others are still missing. Rescue and recovery are still ongoing, so no one can say for sure that personnel cuts at the National Weather Service or open positions at forecasting offices in Texas amplified or even affected the flood’s tragic outcome.
There are many facts yet to be discovered, and a full investigation will certainly be conducted.
But Trump’s approach to weather and disasters is well-known
Recent reports about how staffing and budget cuts are affecting forecasting at the agency may ultimately be seen as an early warning.
“The National Weather Service is in worse shape than previously known, according to interviews with current and former meteorologists, due to a combination of layoffs, early retirements and preexisting vacancies,” CNN’s Andrew Freedman wrote back in May. The report also noted that a third of National Weather Service forecasting stations lacked a top meteorologist in charge.
There’s plenty more
CNN reported in April the Trump’s administration plans to close weather research laboratories and climate research programs meant to improve weather detection as the climate warms. That budget proposal was more recently submitted to Congress.
Project 2025, the conservative government blueprint that presaged many of the Trump administration’s decisions, called for much less federal spending on weather forecasting and more reliance on private companies.
FEMA’s future is in question
We also can’t say for sure that Trump’s hands-off approach to emergency management will affect recovery in Texas. In fact, Trump quickly declared the flood zone to be a major disaster area.
“We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it back to the state level,” he said at the White House in June.
Asked if Trump is reconsidering that position in light of the horrible Texas floods, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this:
“The president wants to ensure American citizens always have what they need during times of need. Whether that assistance comes from states or the federal government, that’s a policy discussion that will continue. And the president has always said he wants states to do as much as they can, if not more.”
