CNN’s Dana Bash blamed climate change and the Trump administration’s budget decisions for the deadly flash floods that struck Central Texas, claiming that staffing shortfalls at federal weather agencies contributed to the disaster. In a Sunday interview with Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Bash pointed to buyouts and vacancies at the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offices in Austin and San Antonio—changes implemented under President Trump.
Bash noted that key forecasters, including Warning Coordination Meteorologists, were missing at the time of the floods. Castro echoed Bash’s concerns, attributing the increasing frequency and severity of weather disasters to climate change and calling for investment in more accurate forecasting systems. However, Castro did not confirm that missing personnel directly contributed to the lack of warnings or failed response.
The discussion follows recent media reports highlighting the vulnerability of Texas’ weather infrastructure. Politico quoted emergency officials urging lawmakers to focus on rescue and recovery efforts first, before launching investigations into agency staffing. Despite that, Bash focused on federal funding cuts from several years ago to assign blame.
Under President Trump, the NWS offered buyouts in 2017 and 2020, aiming to streamline operations and cut bureaucracy. At the time, NOAA leadership maintained that forecasting capacity would not be compromised. Critics now argue that vacancies in key positions may have delayed flood warnings, but no official report has confirmed such a link.
Left-leaning media outlets have since amplified Bash’s narrative, connecting extreme weather events to both climate change and past Republican-led policy decisions.
