NWS Cuts Linked to Delayed Texas Flood Warnings, 100+ Dead

Weeks before the catastrophic Texas flash floods in July 2025, five former National Weather Service (NWS) directors warned President Donald Trump that proposed budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could lead to "needless loss of life" by crippling critical forecasting infrastructure. Despite the NWS not being explicitly defunded, a 30% cut to NOAA's research, satellite, and oceanic data programs, alongside the departure of over 550 NWS employees due to layoffs and buyouts, left forecasting offices understaffed and strained during the disaster. Florida meteorologist John Morales also predicted a degradation in forecasting quality due to these budget cuts, highlighting a 20% to 40% understaffing at Florida NWS offices, which resonated widely after the deadly floods. Lawmakers including Rep. Eric Swalwell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have criticized the staffing cuts, requesting investigations into whether these reductions delayed warnings and responses, which may have cost lives. The Department of Homeland Security defended the NWS, stating that timely warnings were issued despite unprecedented rainfall. However, emergency officials and local leaders argue that more robust early-warning capabilities, which were undermined by budget and personnel cuts, could have mitigated the disaster's severity.