US EditionAfter Texas floods, questions about FEMA's future loom large
TEXAS, JUL 9 – FEMA’s leadership changes and new spending controls have slowed disaster aid after Texas floods killed nearly 120 people, raising concerns about the agency’s future role, officials say.
- More than 100 people died in central Texas flash floods occurring around July 4, prompting high-level visits and scrutiny of response efforts.
- The disaster response faced delays because Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem required personal approval for large contracts, limiting FEMA's autonomy.
- Former MEMA director Robert Latham defended FEMA, saying the agency is not broken but cautioned that reshaping it could increase bureaucracy.
- President Trump described the flooding as a rare event occurring once every 200 years and reiterated his intention to gradually eliminate FEMA, shifting responsibility for disaster management back to the individual states.
- Congressional Democrats have called for hearings to review federal preparedness, while technologies and data modernization efforts aim to improve future forecasting and response.
48 Articles
48 Articles
FEMA's former administrator explains how its funding helps after disasters like the flooding in Texas
One week after a catastrophic flooding swept through Texas' Hill Country, survivors and residents are looking for ways to put their lives back on track. And for many of them, that means help from the federal government and FEMA.Scripps News spoke with former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Friday, to learn more about how FEMA typically responds to natural disasters such as the floods in Texas.After a disaster like this, what kind of fundin…
Trump Tours Texas Flood Zone Testing Pledge To Dismantle FEMA
When disaster strikes, politics often take a backseat—at least temporarily. That’s the case with Donald Trump’s recent trip to flood-ravaged Texas. He surveyed the wreckage of a storm that has claimed over 120 lives and left more than 170 people missing. But behind the scenes? Tension is brewing.Trump, who once championed the idea of gutting FEMA—the very agency now leading relief efforts—has gone quiet on those plans. “Nobody ever saw a thing l…
Dem lawmakers demand answers from Trump admin over Texas flood response
Top Democratic lawmakers are formally demanding answers from the Trump administration about the impact of budget cuts and DHS policies on the government's ability to respond to the devastating Texas floods. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) joins Chris Jansing to share why the lack of funding is "extremely dangerous and disheartening."
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