Trump's Cost-Cutting Policies Delayed FEMA's Texas Flood Response, Officials Say

Texas officials are questioning the effectiveness of the federal response to the recent flooding disaster. Former and current FEMA officials suggest new rules from the Trump administration hindered their ability to respond quickly. The DHS defended the new procedures, stating they empower state actors and replace outdated processes.

One week after disastrous Texas floods claimed the lives of at least 120, with even more missing, officials debate what might have been done to mitigate the tragedy.

Amid high tensions in the political sphere, some former and current officials suggest the federal response could have been more effective were it not for changes made by the Trump administration.

Did Trump's cuts affect FEMA's Texas response?

A veteran official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who chose to remain anonymous, shared concerns for the disaster season with The Washington Post two days before the deadly Texas floods. The official said a primary concern "was the agency's ability to quickly deploy specialized search and rescue teams. The Trump administration's new rules mean disaster specialists can no longer 'make decisions' on their own."

Last month, a federal directive was issued to require Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem "to approve every purchase, contract and grant over $100,000," a dozen current and former FEMA employees told The Washington Post. The action was intended to cut spending; however, some argue that it created bureaucratic obstacles for the agency to access funds in situations where response time was critical.

FEMA officials also told CNN that the $100,000 threshold was "pennies" compared to the billions the agency typically spends on disaster response. Without the autonomy to approve such costs within the agency, employees are unsure of their responsibilities.

"We were operating under a clear set of guidance: lean forward, be prepared, anticipate what the state needs, and be ready to deliver it," a longtime FEMA official told CNN. "That is not as clear of an intent for us at the moment."

The barriers to funding limited how FEMA could collaborate with companies that provide disaster response services.

In a situation like the flooding in Central Texas, the agency would have strategically placed Urban Search and Rescue teams at key points near the disaster zone to ensure rapid response. But multiple sources told CNN that Noem didn't approve the deployment of those teams until Monday — days after parts of the state were first overwhelmed by floods.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin has defended Noem's alleged delayed authorization, saying that the department had first relied on other DHS search and rescue resources. It was only later, when FEMA assets were needed, that Noem gave the approval.

"FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens," McLaughlin told CNN in a statement. "The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades."

President Donald Trump spoke about the deadly Texas flooding with reporters on Sunday, after issuing a disaster declaration for Kerr County. He was asked about his plans to phase out FEMA.

"FEMA is something we can talk about later," Trump told reporters. "But right now they’re busy working so we’ll leave it at that."

More Texas counties to receive FEMA aid

On the morning of July 11, Trump added Travis, Williamson and Burnet counties — among others — to a presidential disaster declaration. These counties will join Kerr County in being eligible to receive aid from FEMA.