Meteorologists: National Weather Service Had ‘Extra’ Staff During Texas Floods, Not Impacted by Trump’s Cuts

A devastating flash flood swept through Central Texas over the July 4 weekend, tragically killing over 80 people—including young campers—and leaving many missing. With communities reeling from this once-in-a-century event, the questions being raised now carry weighty fiscal and security implications.

Despite rapid devastation, the National Weather Service (NWS) had issued multiple warnings:

• A flood watch more than 12 hours before the flood hit.
• Flash-flood emergencies with life-threatening language around 4 a.m. on July 4.
• Local NWS offices even surged staff, with five meteorologists on shift—well beyond the usual two.

DHS Secretary Noem and other officials emphasized that NWS executed timely, consistent alerts and is now receiving funds for modernization—not more personnel, but smarter systems.

Some Democrats rushed to blame President Trump and NOAA budget cuts. Senate Minority Leader Schumer called for an Inspector General probe into alleged staffing shortages. Others blamed “administration cuts” directly. Hollywood voices echoed these claims on social media .

But conservative reporting—from the New York Post to the Washington Examiner—points out:

• Budget cuts hadn’t yet taken effect.
• The NWS did increase staff and send warnings on time.
• Local emergency systems—like flood sirens—were missing, a long-standing local choice, not a federal budget issue.

This isn’t about fiscal stinginess but common-sense stewardship—prioritizing effective use of taxpayer dollars and deploying modernized systems over endless staffing.

1. System modernization – Replacing outdated sirens and alert tech with smarter, automated, and federated systems.
2. Local vs federal roles – Texas lacked a “last-mile” warning system, despite warnings going out. That’s a matter for state accountability, not federal overreach.
3. Fiscal responsibility – Federal relief has been authorized under strong fiscal oversight, aiming to rebuild efficiently without growing government bureaucracy.

Natural disasters demand swift action—not political points. The NWS did its job, but local infrastructure was insufficient. Blaming the administration’s leaner federal structure misdirects accountability and undermines limited-government values. Now, conservatives should push for smart spending—modernize alerts, empower local decision-makers, and resist the impulse to inflate federal power after every tragedy.