MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur, Doggett, & Sorensen Lead Call for Urgent Federal Action After Deadly Texas Flood

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, joined by Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) Dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation, and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) the only meteorologist serving in Congress, today led a forceful letter to federal agencies calling for immediate action following the catastrophic flash flooding in Kerr County, Texas, that claimed over 100 lives. The letter — sent to President Donald J. Trump, NOAA leadership, and the US Army Corps of Engineers — demands an urgent review of staffing shortages, stalled forecasting improvements, and insufficient flood preparedness that contributed to the disaster.

The lawmakers point to dangerous gaps in public warning coordination and a 15% reduction in National Weather Service (NWS) staffing since January as critical failures that must be addressed before the next extreme weather event. Accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large.

“This flood was not just a natural disaster but a failure of foresight and leadership,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “A changing climate is rewriting the rules of weather, and our federal agencies must keep pace. The American people deserve a weather warning system that does more than sound the alarm. It must be fully staffed and ready to act to ensure that everyone in harms way receives it. This letter is a demand for accountability, but more importantly, it’s a demand for lives to be protected anywhere severe weather strikes.”

“As Texans in my state are faced with much pain and uncertainty, we cannot wait to ask the hard questions,” said Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37). “Effective oversight saves lives. That is why we need a full account of the ways in which the Trump administration’s recent actions have undermined the federal response, both before and after this catastrophe. Learning from these failures and recognizing that weather intensification driven by climate change increasingly endangers lives will help prevent more tragedies.”

“As someone who has reported on dangerous floods for my neighbors as a meteorologist in my local community, I know how critical it is for NWS meteorologists, local media, and emergency management coordinators to work together seamlessly and quickly to share urgent warnings,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17). “The deadly toll of the flash floods that hit Texas last week beg the question of what went wrong with the warning systems in place and what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy. The Trump Administration’s cuts to NOAA and the NWS are already having a real impact on the accuracy of our nation’s weather forecasting, creating cause for major concern. That is why I am calling on President Trump, NOAA, and the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a full-scale investigation into what went wrong and what can be done to prevent catastrophes like this in the future.”

This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives in recent years: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021, 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024. These events are not anomalies — they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

Kaptur, Doggett, and Sorensen request a response within 30 days and underscore that federal weather services must not be the weak link in the nation’s climate resilience.

A full copy of the letter can be found by clicking here or reading below:

July 11, 2025

Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Laura Grimm
Chief of Staff, performing the duties of Undersecretary for Commerce of Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Ave NW

Washington, DC 20230

Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr.
Commanding General and 56^th Chief of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

441 G St NW

Washington DC, 20314

Dear Mr. President, Ms. Grimm, and General Graham:

We write with deep concern about the recent flooding in Kerr County, Texas, by both the severity of this event and the structural shortcomings at the federal, state, and local levels that contributed to the tragic loss of life. On July 4, 2025, Kerr County was struck by a flash flood of devastating impact. The Guadalupe River rose by more than 20 feet in less than two hours,^[1] engulfing homes and campsites, and leaving over a hundred dead in its wake.^[2] This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021,^[3] 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024.^[4] These events are not anomalies—they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

Atmospheric scientists have long warned that warmer air holds more water vapor and thus latent energy produces heavier rainfall. In 1989, the Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, James Hansen, wrote presciently that “the greenhouse effect enhances both ends of the hydrologic cycle…, there is an increased frequency of extreme wet situations, as well as increased drought. Model results are shown to imply that increased greenhouse warming will lead to more intense thunderstorms, that is, deeper thunderstorms with greater rainfall.”^[5]

While the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast may have been accurate, accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large. We are concerned that there seems to have been a breakdown at this stage starting with the first flash flood watches issued on Thursday afternoon.

Following a series of catastrophic tornadoes in the spring of 2011 that culminated in the worst tornado in a generation in Joplin, Missouri, NWS acknowledged that accurate forecasts were not enough to protect life and property, and thereby elevated the importance of properly communicating to the public about life-threatening weather events. As a result, NWS developed the Weather Ready Nation initiative to ensure that Americans knew how to appropriately respond to dangerous weather conditions when alerted by NWS or the private weather enterprise. In support of this effort, Congress codified the position of Warning Coordination Meteorologist in every weather forecast office (WFO) around the country in the 2017 Weather Act.

While staffing across NWS has long been a bipartisan concern, the staffing reductions mandated by the Department of Government Efficiency has greatly magnified the issue, with NWS losing nearly 15% of its staff nationwide since January. The forecast accuracy and timeliness during this event in Texas was a testament to the dedication of the local NWS staff who flexed their schedules to ensure adequate coverage during such a high-impact event. That is not a sustainable solution, nor is it reliable enough for the increasing incidence of dangerous weather events.

In particular, the loss of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the San Antonio weather forecast office (WFO) and the reduced number of forecasters put the people of Texas at risk. Lacking a full staff complement requires the team to focus only on issuing the forecasts and warnings. Outreach and coordination, a key responsibility of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist, do not occur. Also, we understand that the funding supporting travel to the community for outreach and coordination, including meeting with emergency managers and elected officials, has been suspended. Having the Warning Coordination Meteorologist position and the vacancies filled may have been critical to saving more lives by connecting with as many local community leaders as possible in the hours between the 1 a.m. NWS warning and 4 a.m. when the most dangerous conditions began impacting residents.^[6]

Given these concerns, we intend to work quickly to enact the Weather Staffing Improvement Act, which will streamline the hiring of federal weather forecasters. Meanwhile, we request that NWS expedites the backfilling of vacancies at all WFOs and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Further, we request that, despite proposed cuts to programs in the fiscal year 2026 budget request, no other reductions in funding or staffing occur without the explicit direction of Congress to programs that support precipitation prediction and decision support or the improvement of those services, including, but not limited to the work of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

NWS Director Ken Graham has also laid out strategic priorities to transform NWS’ staffing models and organizational effectiveness, known as “Ken’s 10”.^[7] We applaud his thoughtful proposals, though we urge NOAA to provide more detailed information for Congress to consider prior to wholesale implementation. Further, we urge that any adoption and implementation be done in a measured way so as to prevent any failures in the current system during the transition.

We ask that your agencies please provide the following information:

Staffing Cuts: Provide a breakdown of NWS staffing levels since 2017 at WFOs and the National Centers for Environmental Protection. Identify how many WFOs, and for how long each, has lacked each of the following positions over that time: Meteorologist in Charge, a Science Operations Officer, and a Warning Coordination Meteorologist? What performance impacts have resulted?
Communication Gaps: How did the absence of a Warning Coordination Meteorologist and reduced staffing affect warning distribution, communication and coordination in Kerr County and other nearby jurisdictions? What is the standard operating procedure for such a role in such critical weather events?
Precipitation Prediction: Atlas-15 will provide detailed estimates of maximum probable precipitation rates for any location in the U.S., critical information for planning for severe weather events. Please explain any reasons for the current delays in Atlas-15’s national release. Are sufficient funds available for the completion of this tool? Have any funds been redirected away from this purpose?
Status of PPGC: The Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge (PPGC), an initiative to dramatically improve the accuracy of forecasting when, where, and how much precipitation will occur has been chronically underfunded. Please provide an update on the current efforts to date and the requirements to make significant progress over the next 5 years.
Adopting Graham’s Priorities: Which of Ken Graham’s ten transformation proposals have been implemented? Provide projected costs and timelines.
Corps Flood Control Improvements: This event also highlights the need for improvements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) who is tasked with flood control across the country. How has the Corps updated its standard operating procedures to recognize the increased risk of extreme precipitation? What is the status of the adoption of the Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) to reduce flooding risk and maximize water availability? What additional research and monitoring is necessary, and on what timeline, to incorporate FIRO into the Corps’ standard procedures?
Interagency Collaboration: What NOAA and Corps coordination mechanisms are in place to improve rural flood-warning infrastructure and emergency preparedness, including hydrology modeling and flood response planning?
Future Preparedness Plan: Describe plans to adapt federal weather services to the growing frequency of extreme precipitation events attributable to climate change.

Across America, we are entering a perilous new era of extreme precipitation. The science is clear: a warming world means heavier rains, more frequent flash floods, and rising stakes. Failure to learn from this disaster will only exacerbate future risk. Now is the moment to prioritize investments—restoring NOAA staffing and accelerating research and coordinating flood preparedness across the Federal Government. We respectfully ask for your prompt attention and response within 30 days to ensure federal weather infrastructure is not the weak link in our national resilience. We further request a quick response to the July 8, 2025 letter from Rep. Doggett, the Dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation.

Sincerely,

# # #

MIL OSI USA News –

July 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: ICE and CBP Law Enforcement Dodge Literal Bullets from Rioters While Rescuing at Least 10 Migrant Children During Operations at Two Marijuana Grow Sites in California

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

Brave agents faced gun fire as they executed on criminal search warrants at a marijuana facility where they rescued at least 10 migrant children, arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released the following statement after U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers faced gunfire while conducting operations at two marijuana grow sites in California. The shooter remains at-large.

On July 10, 2025, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. During the operation, at least 10 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.

During the operation, more than 500 rioters attempted to disrupt operations. Four U.S. citizens are being criminally processed for assaulting or resisting officers. The rioters damaged vehicles and one violent agitator fired a gun at law enforcement officers. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is now offering $50,000 for any information leading to the arrest of this violent rioter.

The individual was caught on video firing what looked like a pistol at federal law enforcement. Despite law enforcement’s heroic actions to rescue these children, politicians are defending rioters and attacking our men and women in uniform.

“At the California marijuana facilities, ICE and CBP law enforcement rescued at least 10 migrant children from what looks like exploitation, forced child labor, and potentially human trafficking or smuggling. Our law enforcement also arrested nearly 200 illegal aliens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “During the operation, a violent agitator fired a gun at our brave officers. While ICE and CBP officers are being assaulted by rioters and dodging bullets to save children, Sanctuary politicians are demonizing ICE and CBP. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement.”

The investigation into immigration and potential child labor violations is ongoing. Information will be released as it becomes available.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

July 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: ICE and CBP Law Enforcement Dodge Literal Bullets from Rioters While Rescuing at Least 10 Migrant Children During Operations at Two Marijuana Grow Sites in California

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

Brave agents faced gun fire as they executed on criminal search warrants at a marijuana facility where they rescued at least 10 migrant children, arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released the following statement after U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers faced gunfire while conducting operations at two marijuana grow sites in California. The shooter remains at-large.

On July 10, 2025, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. During the operation, at least 10 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.

During the operation, more than 500 rioters attempted to disrupt operations. Four U.S. citizens are being criminally processed for assaulting or resisting officers. The rioters damaged vehicles and one violent agitator fired a gun at law enforcement officers. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is now offering $50,000 for any information leading to the arrest of this violent rioter.

The individual was caught on video firing what looked like a pistol at federal law enforcement. Despite law enforcement’s heroic actions to rescue these children, politicians are defending rioters and attacking our men and women in uniform.

“At the California marijuana facilities, ICE and CBP law enforcement rescued at least 10 migrant children from what looks like exploitation, forced child labor, and potentially human trafficking or smuggling. Our law enforcement also arrested nearly 200 illegal aliens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “During the operation, a violent agitator fired a gun at our brave officers. While ICE and CBP officers are being assaulted by rioters and dodging bullets to save children, Sanctuary politicians are demonizing ICE and CBP. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement.”

The investigation into immigration and potential child labor violations is ongoing. Information will be released as it becomes available.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

July 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Canada: B.C. improves HOV-lane access for EV drivers

The Province of B.C. is making it easier for electric-vehicle (EV) drivers to access high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, reflecting the popularity of electric vehicles in B.C.

Starting Aug. 15, 2025, drivers of eligible plug-in hybrid or battery-electric vehicles will no longer need to display an OK decal to use designated HOV lanes. As of that date, access to HOV lanes for EV drivers will be indicated solely by road signs.

This update to the Electric Vehicle in High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (EVHOV) program simplifies HOV-lane usage for EV owners and eliminates administrative wait times for decals.

Other changes include allowing eligible out-of-province vehicles and electric heavy-duty trucks to use HOV lanes where signage permits, supporting more efficient goods movement and encouraging cleaner transportation options.

Access to HOV lanes without the minimum number of passengers where signage permits will remain available to vehicles that run on an electric motor and plug in to charge. Hydrogen vehicles will no longer be eligible to use HOV lanes without meeting the minimum passenger requirement.

By removing the decal requirement, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit will save approximately $70,000 annually in administrative costs. The ministry will continue to monitor the capacity of HOV lanes in the province to ensure they remain effective for all permitted users.

Learn More:

For details about electric-vehicle access to HOV lanes, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/routes-and-driving-conditions/hov-lanes/electric

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 12, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Secures Funding for Michigan Priorities in Agriculture Appropriations Bill

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped the Senate Appropriations Committee pass the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This bipartisan legislation would fund critical federal agencies and programs that support rural communities, food safety, and America’s robust agricultural economy. The bill also supports Michigan’s agriculture priorities as well as high-impact local projects across Michigan. The bill now advances to the full Senate.

“This bill makes investments that matter to Michigan, like strengthening local emergency response efforts, supporting our robust agricultural economy, and improving access to affordable food,” said Senator Peters. “It also delivers resources for food safety initiatives that will help keep all Americans healthy. I’ll keep advocating for these key priorities as this bill moves to the full Senate.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is considering their own funding bills. The Senate and House will then need to reach an agreement on a final funding bill and have it pass both chambers before being sent to the President to be signed into law.

The bill includes numerous measures led and supported by Peters, including:

Funding to Support Communities in Michigan:

New Fire Truck for City of Alpena: Peters secured $1,105,000 in the bill for the City of Alpena to replace an essential aerial ladder fire truck to help ensure safe and efficient operations.

Improving Public Safety in Bad Axe: The bill includes $850,000 to support the construction of a new public safety building for the City of Bad Axe. The project would help ensure that first responders have the resources they need to efficiently and effectively respond to emergencies.

New Fire Engine for the City of Berkley: The bill would provide $385,000 to replace the City of Berkley’s primary front-line fire engine responsible for responding to fire and vehicle extraction emergencies.

Upgrading Emergency Communications Infrastructure in Big Creek Township: Peters secured $74,000 for the Big Creek Township Fire Department to upgrade its radio system. The new system will ensure department staff can efficiently and effectively communicate when responding to emergencies.

New Fire Truck for City of Big Rapids: The bill includes $378,000 for the City of Big Rapids to purchase a new fire truck, which will improve community safety and be used to better protect both people and property.

New Aerial Ladder Truck for Escanaba: The bill would provide $700,000 for the Escanaba Public Safety Department to replace an aerial ladder fire truck essential to providing safe and efficient emergency and fire services for the community.

Training First Responders in Grand Traverse County: Peters secured $80,000 in the bill to support the construction of a new training facility for the Northwest Regional Fire Training Center Authority. The facility would support education and training needs for fire, EMS, local and state law enforcement, and maritime professionals.

Improving Wildfire Response in Montcalm: The bill would provide $245,000 for the Lakeview District Fire Department in Montcalm to purchase equipment needed to adequately protect the community and property from growing threats of wildfires.

Expanding Access to Child Care in Stanton: Peters secured $225,000 to expand the Central Montcalm Public School’s Early Childhood Center to provide more childcare and educational services for the community.

New Plow Truck for Village of Ontonagon: The bill includes $169,000 for the Village of Ontonagon to purchase a new plow truck, which will help keep streets and alleyways clear of snow and ice for the safety of both residents and visitors to the nearby Porcupine Mountains State Park.

New Fire Engine for the City of Rockwood: The bill would provide $765,000 for the City of Rockwood to purchase a new fire engine to help strengthen its fire response for the community.

Improving Library Access in Caro: The bill includes $200,000 secured by Peters, which will be used to modernize a 46-year-old elevator currently in use at the Caro Area District Library.

Supporting Farmers & Michigan’s Agricultural Sector:

Funding for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): This bill includes funding for APHIS, which helps farmers combat specialty crop pests. This funding would support Peters’ Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act, legislation that aims to reduce the spread of, and advance research on, the spotted wing drosophila (SWD). SWD an invasive insect that harms fruit growers and their crops in Michigan and across the country.

Research to Advance Technology in Agriculture: Peters supported a provision in the bill to provide funding for the Agricultural Research Service Crop Production Program, which would allow researchers to identify and develop new methods for increasing crop production sustainably using emerging technologies. These methods include satellites, geospatial systems, and artificial intelligence.

Promoting Urban Farming and Indoor Agriculture Sector: The bill includes funding for the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Program, which seeks to promote urban, indoor, and other innovative agricultural practices that have been adopted for use in both urban and rural areas to bolster local food systems and extend short growing seasons.

Boosting Agricultural Research: The bill includes funding for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which provides funding for key research projects that can contribute to substantial breakthroughs in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Investments from NIFA help ensure that farmers, ranchers, and foresters have access to fair and competitive markets, while supporting resilient growing practices that produce nutritious and affordable foods for American families.

Strengthen Public Health & Expand Nutrition Assistance:

Funding to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Pets: Peters secured $3 million in funding for the Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program, which provides funding to facilities who harbor survivors of domestic violence, along with their pets, as well as animal shelters that partner with domestic violence service providers. This program was established by Peters’ PAWS Act, which was signed into law in 2018.

Funding to Improve Food Safety: The bill includes funding for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Human Foods Program, which aims to ensure the food we consume is safe and nutritious, including baby food and infant formula. The bill’s report language will begin the work to support FDA’s oversight of baby formula production and update food labeling and consumer guidance. This language was inspired by Peters’ Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act, which would strengthen FDA’s oversight of infant formula manufacturing and improve the security of our nation’s infant formula supply, ensuring American families have access to safe, affordable formula.

Language Requiring the FDA to Develop Monitoring Guidelines for Human Cell and Tissue Products (HCT/P): The bill includes language Peters secured that would require the FDA to examine the feasibility of implementing tissue-tracking protocols for HCT/Ps, similar to those required for solid organs and blood products. The bill also requests that the FDA works with other federal agencies to develop routine post HCT/P implant monitoring guidelines similar to current practices for all tissue allograft recipients. This provision builds on Senator Peters’ previous efforts to prevent tuberculosis contaminations in HCT/Ps, including introduction last Congress of the Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Products Safety Act, which would establish an education campaign to prevent tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks from infected HCTP donations.

Supporting Nutrition Assistance: The bill funds critical programs that help meet the nutrition needs of American families across the country. The bill funds the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which provides nutrition assistance to millions of women and children nationwide and includes funding to support fruit and vegetable benefits.

The bill also funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which assists millions of Americans every month. Additionally, the bill funds vital nutrition programs aimed at supporting children in school, such as the federal school lunch and breakfast programs, and the Summer EBT program. The funding provided by this bill will support approximately 5 billion lunches and 2.7 billion breakfasts to children across the country.

Improving Food Safety: The bill provides funding for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a vital agency that helps protect the safety and resiliency of America’s food supply.

Improving Transparency in FDA Oversight: Peters secured language in the bill that would prevent the FDA from using funds for activities that are non-compliant with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which governs the establishment, operation, and termination of advisory committees within the executive branch of the federal government. FACA’s main purpose is to ensure transparency and improve public access to the guidance provided by these committees.

Improving Public Infrastructure:

Strengthening Dam Infrastructure: The bill includes $1 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Watershed Rehabilitation Program. This program provides technical and financial assistance to communities seeking to extend the service life of aging dam infrastructure and bring dams into compliance with current safety and performance standards.

Rental Assistance in Rural Communities: The bill provides funding for rental assistance for Americans living in rural areas to help expand access to safe and affordable housing options.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 12, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur, Doggett, & Sorenson Lead Call for Urgent Federal Action After Deadly Texas Flood

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), joined by Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) and Congressman Eric Sorenson (IL-17), today led a forceful letter to federal agencies calling for immediate action following the catastrophic flash flooding in Kerr County, Texas, that claimed over 100 lives. The letter — sent to President Donald J. Trump, NOAA leadership, and the US Army Corps of Engineers — demands an urgent review of staffing shortages, stalled forecasting improvements, and insufficient flood preparedness that contributed to the disaster.

The lawmakers point to dangerous gaps in public warning coordination and a 15% reduction in National Weather Service (NWS) staffing since January as critical failures that must be addressed before the next extreme weather event. Accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large.

“This flood was not just a natural disaster but a failure of foresight and leadership,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “A changing climate is rewriting the rules of weather, and our federal agencies must keep pace. The American people deserve a weather warning system that does more than sound the alarm. It must be fully staffed and ready to act to ensure that everyone in harms way receives it. This letter is a demand for accountability, but more importantly, it’s a demand for lives to be protected anywhere severe weather strikes.”

“As Texans in my state are faced with much pain and uncertainty, we cannot wait to ask the hard questions,” said Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37). “Effective oversight saves lives. That is why we need a full account of the ways in which the Trump administration’s recent actions have undermined the federal response, both before and after this catastrophe. Learning from these failures and recognizing that weather intensification driven by climate change increasingly endangers lives will help prevent more tragedies.”

“As someone who has reported on dangerous floods for my neighbors as a meteorologist in my local community, I know how critical it is for NWS meteorologists, local media, and emergency management coordinators to work together seamlessly and quickly to share urgent warnings,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17). “The deadly toll of the flash floods that hit Texas last week beg the question of what went wrong with the warning systems in place and what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy. The Trump Administration’s cuts to NOAA and the NWS are already having a real impact on the accuracy of our nation’s weather forecasting, creating cause for major concern. That is why I am calling on President Trump, NOAA, and the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a full-scale investigation into what went wrong and what can be done to prevent catastrophes like this in the future.”

This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives in recent years: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021, 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024. These events are not anomalies — they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

Kaptur, Doggett, and Sorenson request a response within 30 days and underscore that federal weather services must not be the weak link in the nation’s climate resilience.