As the death toll climbs in Texas, the Trump Administration is actively undermining the nation’s ability to predict—and to deal with—climate-related disasters.

Just weeks ago, President Donald Trump said he wanted to begin “phasing out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this hurricane season to “wean off of FEMA” and “bring it down to the state level.

At least 24 people were dead and many missing after torrential rains unleashed flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas.

FEMA officials said search and rescue efforts in the Texas floods were slowed by budget rules imposed by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

"FEMA has been really headed by some very good people,” Trump said during a roundtable with local officials, suggesting his administration turned the agency around after sharply criticizing the Biden administration-led FEMA response to flooding in North Carolina in late 2024.