White House Slams Claims Linking Trump-Era Cuts to Deadly Texas Floods: “A Depraved Lie”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt forcefully pushed back Monday against mounting criticism that the tragic flash floods in Kerr County, Texas—which claimed the lives of over 90 people—were linked to staffing shortages or budget cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Speaking during a White House briefing, Leavitt dismissed the accusations made by Democratic leaders and several media outlets as “completely false,” offering detailed rebuttals to the claims that a lack of preparedness at the National Weather Service (NWS) contributed to the disaster.

“What I can tell you is these offices were fully staffed,” Leavitt stated. “The San Angelo office was fully staffed with 12 forecast meteorologists. There were no vacancies.” She added that the San Antonio office was also operating with 11 forecasters at the time of the flooding, and pointed out that even the meteorologists’ union confirmed that staffing levels were sufficient.

Leavitt referred to the flooding event as “a once-in-a-century flash flood, a tragic natural disaster,” and emphasized that the Trump administration is doing everything possible to support affected families. “The administration is doing all that we can on the ground to help these families during this time of need,” she said.

The press secretary responded sharply to claims that the disaster could have been prevented if not for alleged cuts under Trump. “These offices were well-staffed,” she reiterated. “In fact, one of the offices was overstaffed; it had more people than they needed. So, any claim to the contrary is completely false. And it’s just sad that people are pushing these lies.”

The criticism in question originated from several Democratic officials, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who implied that budget reductions at federal agencies under Trump may have led to a weakened response or early warning failure. Leavitt flatly rejected this narrative.

“Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie,” she said. “It serves no purpose during this time of national mourning.”

To further counter the narrative, Leavitt laid out a detailed timeline showing that the National Weather Service issued timely and adequate warnings:

• On July 3, the NWS issued a flood watch for the afternoon and evening hours.

• On July 4, flash flood warnings were updated in the morning, offering roughly four hours of lead time.

• Extra staff were assigned during the storm’s peak—contradicting media claims that the response was understaffed.

“The NWS executed timely and precise forecasts and warnings,” Leavitt declared, adding that any assertion to the contrary was not only inaccurate but deliberately misleading. “So, to any person who has deliberately lied about these facts surrounding this catastrophic event, you should be deeply ashamed.”

Leavitt concluded by announcing that President Trump will travel to Texas later this week to visit affected areas, meet with local officials, and offer direct support to families devastated by the storm. The visit is expected to include briefings from emergency responders and local authorities.

The administration has also pledged continued assistance for recovery and rebuilding efforts as Texas communities face the aftermath of one of the deadliest weather events in recent history.