The Trump administration's funding cuts to weather and disaster programs are under scrutiny after severe flooding in Texas. Critics warn that the full impact of these cuts, which include significant reductions in funding for federal disaster programs and the National Weather Service, has not yet been seen. Experts predict that lives and property will be at increased risk due to degraded disaster warning systems. Despite claims of adequate staffing at the National Weather Service, records show that key positions remain vacant. The administration dismisses the connection between budget cuts and disaster outcomes.
The vast majority of President Donald Trump's rollbacks to the agencies' funding, staffing and science have yet to land, leading to potential increased risks of disasters across the country.
On supporting science journalism: Lives are going to be lost, property is going to be damaged, said Rick Spinrad, who served as NOAA administrator under former President Joe Biden.
A spokesperson for the White House budget office rejected the idea that Trump's policy ideas could affect the outcome of disasters.
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, described Democrats accusing Trump of cuts related to the National Weather Service as depraved and despicable.
Collection
[
|
...
]