The Fourth of July turned tragic in Texas this year, as fast-moving floods swept through the Hill Country, killing nearly 100 people, and now, the political storm is just beginning.
In the aftermath, a growing number of critics are pointing fingers at President Donald Trump’s deep cuts to weather and disaster response agencies, arguing that the lack of investment in forecasting and emergency systems may have exacerbated the disaster.
Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who famously led relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, didn’t mince words. “I don’t buy into the narrative that nothing could be done, and this is just an act of God. I say that is BS,” he posted on X. “The answer is 21st-century technology.”
While some experts agree the disaster was unusually intense, they also believe warning systems could have saved lives. The flash flooding, which roared down the Guadalupe River and hit communities including several summer camps, reportedly struck with little notice.
Trump, for his part, dismissed the idea that the flooding could’ve been prevented. “This was a 100-year catastrophe,” he said late Sunday. “This was something that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it.”
At a press conference Monday, Sen. Ted Cruz called for unity and condemned “partisan finger-pointing” as local officials from devastated counties tried to hold back tears. But pressure is building in Washington.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has already demanded a formal investigation into whether recent funding cuts made things worse. “The American people deserve answers,” Schumer wrote in a letter to the Commerce Department’s inspector general.
Critics argue this wasn’t just about Mother Nature—it was about missed opportunities. They say basic tools like river gauges and early warning sirens could’ve alerted communities in the flood’s path. Add to that better cell coverage, which could’ve helped emergency communication in remote camp areas.
In Kerr County, officials had debated installing a more advanced flood alert system back in 2016. But according to Judge Rob Kelly, the top elected official in the county, residents “kind of reeled at the cost” and the idea never moved forward.
That missed opportunity now haunts local leaders, especially since many of the lives lost were children attending summer camps.
The Trump administration had already slashed staffing at the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over the past year, which critics say left offices dangerously shorthanded. The field office covering the San Antonio and Austin areas had key vacancies when the storm hit.
Still, local meteorologists insist they were fully staffed and did everything they could the night of July 3 and into the morning of July 4 as the floodwaters surged.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to defend his plans to dismantle FEMA, the agency that typically handles recovery after major natural disasters. When asked if the Texas floods might change his stance, he shrugged off the question.
While the floodwaters may have receded, the political fallout is just beginning—and with more extreme weather likely on the horizon, experts warn this could be a sign of more trouble to come.