Trump cuts and National Weather Service
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Texas, flooding
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Q: Is it true that if President Donald Trump hadn’t defunded the National Weather Service, the death toll in the Texas flooding would have been far lower or nonexistent? A: The Trump administration did not defund the NWS but did reduce the staff by 600 people.
The White House is defending the National Weather Service and accusing some Democrats of playing politics in the wake of devastating floods in Texas.
NWS says Flash Flood Warnings were issued on July 3 and early July 4 in Central Texas, giving more than three hours of warning.
Cuts to the National Weather Service has ignited debate about the agency's ability to respond to emergency weather events, like the Hill Country floods.
The National Weather Service says its Central Texas office was prepared for the devastating storms, but understaffed offices may not be. Scott Friedman reports.
More than 100 people have died across six counties after flash flooding from heavy rain began affecting the state last week.
What were the National Weather Service forecasts? Why is it so hard to know where rain will fall? Did staff reductions at the weather service and other budget cuts by the Trump administration contribute to the catastrophe?