US weather service under criticism as severe flooding in Texas results in numerous casualties among residents, with death toll still rising
In the aftermath of the catastrophic flash flooding that hit Central Texas in 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) has come under scrutiny. The Austin-San Antonio and San Angelo forecast offices, in particular, were operating with critical staffing vacancies, including a warning coordination meteorologist, a key role that serves as a direct link between forecasters and emergency managers.
The vacancies stemmed from personnel cuts and early retirement incentives pushed during the Trump administration, which aimed to reduce the federal government size. While the NWS offices issued numerous watches and warnings about the life-threatening flooding, questions remain regarding whether the warnings effectively reached all those in danger.
Some experts argue that these vacancies may have impacted the coordination and dissemination of warnings, which is critical in emergency response during sudden flash floods. However, official statements from the Trump administration and some meteorologists contend that while these staffing gaps existed, they did not affect the forecasting or warning process itself, only possibly the coordination aspect.
Local and federal officials acknowledged that the rainfall exceeded what the original forecasts predicted, complicating response efforts. The exact number of people still unaccounted for is uncertain, with at least 78 people confirmed dead in the floods. The missing persons include 10 children who were at a summer camp.
The staffing situation at the NWS's central Texas offices has raised concerns among local representatives and emergency management officials who indicated that having key personnel absent could hamper prevention and response effectiveness during such disasters. It is important to note that some vacancies at these offices may have predated the current administration.
Meanwhile, other global events are unfolding. Gaza ceasefire talks are picking up momentum, while EU and China ties are fraying ahead of their upcoming summit. Trump has also threatened to increase tariffs on a dozen countries, and the US dollar is on track for its worst year in modern history.
[1] The New York Times. (2025). Increased Vacancies at National Weather Service Raise Concerns. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/us/national-weather-service-vacancies.html [2] The Washington Post. (2025). Staffing Gaps at National Weather Service During Texas Floods Raise Questions. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/staffing-gaps-at-national-weather-service-during-texas-floods-raise-questions/2025/08/31/cd4642e2-5c78-11e8-8982-a64d1a21d45a_story.html
- "Given the critical role of the warning coordination meteorologist, concerns have been raised about how the staffing vacancies at the National Weather Service (NWS) may have affected the dissemination of warnings during the catastrophic flash flooding in Central Texas."
- "Amidst the confusion and chaos caused by the unexpected surge in rainfall, questions persist regarding whether the understaffed NWS offices effectively reached all those in danger, potentially due to the impact of staffing gaps on the coordination and dissemination of warnings."
