Leavitt triggered a fiery backlash by framing the Texas floods as an “act of God” while dismissing calls for scrutiny of delayed warnings and staffing gaps.
At a Glance
- The Texas flash floods over the July 4 weekend killed over 90 people and at least 26 children.
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called claims that Trump administration cuts impacted warnings a “depraved lie.”
- She stated that extra staffing at the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service (NWS) office “overstaffed” the team.
- Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, demanded investigations into whether NWS staffing shortfalls worsened the tragedy.
- Meteorologists and former NWS officials warned that chronic understaffing may have impaired early alert systems.
Political Firestorm
Leavitt launched a blistering defense at the White House briefing on July 7, accusing Democrats and media of “falsehoods” and politicizing the tragedy as she emphasized the NWS warnings timeline. She spelled out that the flood watch was issued at 1:18 p.m. on July 3, followed by flash flood warnings around 11:41 p.m. and upgraded to a flood emergency by 4:03 a.m. on July 4, according to Atlanta Black Star. She added that the Austin office was “overstaffed,” citing five employees working that night compared to the usual two.
But skepticism is growing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a formal investigation into whether staffing cuts under the Trump administration compromised warning quality and coordination, as reported by ABC News. Meanwhile, meteorologists argue that persistent budget cuts eroded NWS capabilities like weather balloon launches and timely communications, a concern echoed by Atlanta Black Star.
Watch a report: FULL: Leavitt Lashes Democrats Blaming Trump For Floods
Divine Defense or Disaster Cover-Up?
Leavitt’s declaration that the floods were an “act of God” prompted outrage. Critics say it’s an evasion of political accountability. “Calling it an ‘act of God’ doesn’t absolve leaders from their duty to act,” noted one observer in Atlanta Black Star’s coverage.
Local officials, including the mayor of Kerr County, said they did not receive timely alerts, and residents reported missing emergency notifications. With water rising 30 feet in minutes along the Guadalupe River at 4–5 a.m. on July 4, many were asleep when critical warnings hit, according to the same report.
Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro pointed to staffing vacancies—from warning coordinator roles to science operations officers—as potentially delaying NWS alerts. GOP state Rep. Wes Virdell admitted that even if warnings arrived earlier, the flash floods’ speed meant few could have responded in time.
What Happens Next
Despite backlash, Leavitt said President Trump will visit Texas later this week to offer condolences and oversight, a plan confirmed by Fox News.
As recovery continues, two clash narratives dominate: one portraying the floods as unavoidable divine fury, the other demanding scrutiny of bureaucratic preparedness. The push for accountability is gaining momentum, with the public demanding action—not just explanations.