Description: Representatives from the Democratic Party criticized the Trump administration for their budget cuts in several organizations which might have played a key role in preventing the disastrous floods in Texas. The representatives claimed that cuts within the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) caused the catastrophic effects of the floods in Texas. Further claims supporting the position taken by the Democrats emphasized that several offices, pertaining to the NWS and NOAA, were severely understaffed while substantial shortcomings in equipment and standardized weather forecasting were also contributory factors. Atmospheric experts have stated that the floods could not have been prevented even with NWS and NOAA operating in full capacity due to the geographical characteristics of the State of Texas and the positioning of the infrastructure in major cities.
Impact: The Texas flooding disaster is being politicized by the two largest political camps in the US, which are shifting the blame for the natural disaster, which has so far claimed over 200 lives. Trump’s conservative and unilateralistic policies mirrored in the domestic and international practices are causing irreparable effects on disaster prevention systems and aid programs affecting millions of people in the US and worldwide. Shortages in staff, equipment and resources further impede the operating capabilities of organizations such as NWS and NOAA which are the first line of defense in the country susceptible to natural disasters. Negative policy practices, such as the cessation of funding and staffing of crucial organizations such as the NWS and NOAA would contribute to severe depletion of the institutional capabilities within the US to prevent or handle similar disasters in the future which are causing major losses of life and infrastructural damage.