Former Weather Officials Feared 'Needless Loss of Life' From Trump Admin's Budgets Cuts Weeks Before Texas Floods

Just weeks before historic flash floods devastated parts of Texas, former directors of the National Weather Service warned the Trump administration that proposed budget cuts to critical forecasting infrastructure could lead to "needless loss of life."

On May 2, 2025, five former NWS directors published an open letter condemning the White House's proposed 30% budget cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for fiscal year 2026.

While the National Weather Service itself was not explicitly defunded, the directors emphasized that deep cuts to NOAA's research, satellite procurement, and oceanic data programs would inevitably cripple the forecasting capabilities Americans rely on during extreme weather events. Their message was stark: slashing resources would not just strain operations, it could cost lives, the Irish Star reported.

That warning became chillingly prescient. Over the July 4 weekend, unprecedented flash flooding tore through Central Texas, killing dozens and overwhelming response systems. With more than 550 National Weather Service employees either fired or driven out in recent months due to buyouts and terminations, key forecast offices were left critically understaffed as storms intensified. Some forecasters reportedly worked without sleep, while others struggled to keep vital radar and alert systems fully operational.

Emergency officials have said that the scale of the destruction could have been mitigated with more robust early-warning infrastructure, particularly in rural counties that received little advance notice.