Senator Ted Cruz Under Fire Amid Deadly Texas Floods, Funding Cuts, and Greece Vacation

Senator Ted Cruz is facing severe backlash following catastrophic flash floods in central Texas that have claimed over 100 lives, including dozens of children. The controversy intensified after reports revealed the Texas senator was on vacation in Greece while his state grappled with the disaster, which critics assert was worsened by recent cuts to weather forecasting funding that he supported.

Cruz returned to Texas on Monday to visit the disaster site, pledging a “serious retrospective” into the tragedy. This comes just days after the Friday flood along the Guadalupe River devastated communities, causing an estimated $20 billion in economic damages. The National Weather Service is also under scrutiny for its response and coordination.

Prior to his trip, Senator Cruz reportedly played a pivotal role in slashing $150 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) efforts to improve future weather forecasting, along with an additional $50 million in NOAA grants for climate-related studies. Environmental groups and critics argue these cuts, coupled with staffing reductions at federal agencies like the NWS and FEMA, have significantly weakened the nation’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

Despite mounting criticism, Cruz has dismissed claims linking funding cuts to the disaster as “partisan finger-pointing,” asserting that warnings were issued hours before the emergency. The Trump administration, which supported the budget changes and whose 2026 budget proposal seeks further cuts to NOAA’s research divisions, has also defended the response, labeling the flood an “act of God.”

However, climate scientists emphasize that extreme weather events are increasingly influenced by climate change, making robust forecasting and research more critical than ever. The ongoing debate highlights escalating tensions between disaster preparedness, climate policy, and political accountability in the wake of devastating natural events.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.