Trump Faces Texas Flood Crisis as Plan to Axe FEMA Sparks Outrage!
President Trump tours Texas flood damage, sidestepping his pledge to dismantle FEMA as the disaster’s toll tests his administration’s priorities.
President Donald Trump heads to Texas on Friday to survey the catastrophic flooding that has claimed at least 120 lives, including 27 at Camp Mystic, a historic all-girls summer camp in Kerr County. The July 4 disaster, described by Trump as a “once-in-every-200-year deal,” has left over 170 people missing and drawn scrutiny to his administration’s push to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which he has repeatedly vowed to phase out in favor of state-led disaster response.
Trump, joined by First Lady Melania Trump, Governor Greg Abbott, and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, will conduct an aerial tour of the hardest-hit areas and visit the state emergency operations center to meet first responders and victims’ families. The visit follows Trump’s swift approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, unlocking federal aid for recovery efforts, including grants for housing and low-cost loans. However, his administration’s silence on FEMA’s future—amid a death toll of 111 and 173 missing as of Tuesday—has fueled debate.
At a recent Cabinet meeting, Trump praised FEMA’s rapid response, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees the agency, highlighting the emotional toll of the disaster. Yet Noem, co-chairing a FEMA review council, emphasized that states should lead disaster management, aligning with Trump’s vision to “wean off” FEMA. Critics, including Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro, warn that cuts to FEMA and the National Weather Service, which issued a “moderate” flood watch before the storm, may have hindered warnings and response efforts.
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Local resident Darrin Potter, whose Kerr County home was flooded, noted inadequate early warnings but cautioned against mass evacuations due to dangerous road conditions. As Texas grapples with recovery, Trump’s push to shift disaster response to states faces growing skepticism amid the ongoing crisis.
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