Trump Deflects Blame on NWS Staffing Cuts Amidst Historic Texas Flooding

In the wake of catastrophic flash flooding in Kerr County, Texas, former President Donald Trump publicly asserted that personnel cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) under his administration were not a factor in the tragedy. Speaking from his golf club in New Jersey, Trump attributed the disaster to a “100-year catastrophe,” absolving both his own administration and the preceding “Biden setup” from blame.

“This was the thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it. Very talented people in there and they didn’t see it,” Trump stated, dismissing suggestions that re-hiring meteorologists was necessary. He argued that the unprecedented scale of the flood made it unlikely any measure could have altered the outcome, despite circulating blame.

However, context from a National Weather Service employees’ union official, Tom Fahy, reveals concerns about staffing. While acknowledging adequate resources in some Texas offices, Fahy highlighted a critical vacancy in the Austin-San Antonio office: a warning coordination meteorologist. This role is crucial for linking forecasters with emergency managers. A NOAA official confirmed that this and other key vacancies were a direct consequence of early retirement incentives implemented by the Trump administration, aimed at reducing the size of the federal workforce.

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