texas
Newsletter
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Trump says America’s oil industry is cleaner than other countries’. New data shows massive emissions from Texas wells.
Texas regulators rejected just 53 out of more than 12,000 applications from oil companies looking to burn off natural gas in the study period.
Newsletter
Texas and Minnesota issue air pollution warnings, urging drivers to avoid idling and drive-thrus
Millions of residents in Texas and Minnesota were asked to change driving habits this week as forecasters warned of unhealthy air from wildfire smoke and ozone pollution.
In short:
- Wildfire smoke from Canada has pushed fine particle levels in Minnesota to “unhealthy” on the Air Quality Index, prompting alerts from Tuesday morning through Wednesday night.
- Texas faces high ground-level ozone levels in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Galveston and Brazoria, with officials declaring an “Ozone Action Day” and asking residents to limit car use.
- The National Weather Service and state agencies warned that vulnerable groups — including people with asthma, heart disease, older adults and children — face elevated health risks.
Key quote:
“The general public should limit prolonged or heavy exertion. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices.”
— National Weather Service
Why this matters:
Fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone are among the most dangerous forms of air pollution, linked to respiratory distress, cardiovascular disease and premature death. Wildfire smoke, which travels hundreds of miles, adds to emissions from vehicles and power plants, compounding risks during heat waves that already strain lungs and hearts. Children and older adults are particularly susceptible because their bodies process pollutants differently. In parts of the United States, these conditions are expected to become more frequent and intense as climate change drives hotter summers and longer fire seasons, leaving millions exposed to air quality that can fluctuate day by day — or even hour by hour.
Related: Wildfires in Manitoba may release decades of hidden toxic metals, scientists warn
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Trump administration scales back FEMA mitigation funds as extreme floods rise
The Trump administration has sharply reduced federal hazard mitigation funds, breaking precedent and leaving states with fewer resources to prepare for worsening floods and storms.
In short:
- Federal hazard mitigation funds, which help states pay for warning systems and flood prevention, were denied in 16 of 18 disaster declarations under President Trump, including after deadly July floods in Texas.
- A coalition of 20 states is suing the federal government over cuts to the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which lost $1 billion for flood control projects.
- Experts warn that as climate-driven extreme rainfall grows more frequent, cutting proactive funding increases financial and human risks, especially in areas with unmapped floodplains.
Key quote:
“Mitigation is a lifeline. It’s a way out of a really bad cycle of disaster, damage, repair, damage that a lot of folks of modest means really can’t escape.”
— Chad Berginnis, head of the Association of State Floodplain Managers
Why this matters:
Hazard mitigation funding is one of the few tools communities have to prepare for disasters before they strike, rather than scrambling afterward. Without it, towns in flood-prone areas face spiraling cycles of destruction and rebuilding that drain public budgets and displace families repeatedly. Flood damages already cost the United States tens of billions each year, and scientists expect that price to climb as warming temperatures fuel heavier downpours. Pulling back on mitigation not only shifts costs to states and local governments but also deepens exposure for residents who can least afford recovery.
Learn more: FEMA search and rescue leader quits amid Texas flood response delays
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Newsletter
FEMA delays disaster aid to multiple states while Texas receives rapid approval
President Donald Trump approved disaster aid for Texas within days of deadly flooding, but several other states and Native American tribes waited months for similar relief due to new federal review policies.
In short:
- At least 10 states and two tribes faced prolonged waits for federal disaster declarations, leaving communities without temporary housing, unemployment assistance, and debris removal.
- New Homeland Security rules now require sign-off on FEMA expenses over $100,000, slowing aid even during large-scale emergencies.
- Critics inside FEMA say the delays reflect political priorities and a “system stall” that burdens rural and low-income areas already stretched by repeated disasters.
Key quote:
“FEMA is built to move fast when lives and infrastructure are on the line. But it can’t do that if our highest levels of elected leadership treat disasters as inconvenient — or worse, as inconsistent with a selected narrative.”
— FEMA official with extensive disaster response experience
Why this matters:
When disaster aid is delayed, people already reeling from floods or fires can find themselves living in unsafe homes or temporary shelters for months. Federal disaster relief often funds essentials like clean water, food, and emergency housing — things states and tribes cannot always cover alone. As extreme weather events grow more frequent and destructive, uneven aid can deepen divides between well-resourced states and those with limited infrastructure. These gaps often hit rural and Indigenous communities hardest, forcing them to navigate bureaucratic hurdles while facing compounding crises such as damaged roads, closed hospitals, or contaminated drinking water. Delays can also slow rebuilding, leaving residents exposed to future storms and heat waves.
Read more: Texas flood response prompts scrutiny of FEMA delays and leadership
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Texas flood response faces scrutiny as FEMA defends actions to Congress
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s acting chief told lawmakers Wednesday that the federal response to catastrophic Texas floods was effective, rejecting claims of delayed rescues and unstaffed call centers.
In short:
- David Richardson, FEMA’s acting administrator, told Congress the agency’s coordination with Texas was “a model,” disputing reports of 72-hour delays in search-and-rescue deployments.
- Critics, including Rep. Greg Stanton and FEMA’s former urban search-and-rescue leader, pointed to missed opportunities to pre-position teams and alleged bureaucratic bottlenecks under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
- President Donald Trump and Noem continue to push for dismantling or overhauling FEMA, with lawsuits pending over canceled disaster mitigation grants and proposals emerging in Congress to make FEMA an independent Cabinet-level agency.
Key quote:
“It haunts me that we could have had more urban search and rescue pre-positioned in place. That was a choice.”
—Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz.
Why this matters:
Flooding disasters are growing more frequent and destructive as climate patterns shift, overwhelming emergency systems and forcing difficult questions about federal versus state responsibility. The debate over FEMA’s future highlights a larger struggle over how to fund and coordinate relief as storms intensify and recovery costs soar. Texans facing the loss of homes and infrastructure rely on immediate aid, yet delays or policy shifts in Washington can leave survivors stranded. Decisions made now — whether to keep FEMA intact, downsize it, or shift duties to states — will shape how quickly Americans receive help in the next crisis and how much rebuilding communities can expect after disasters that are no longer rare events.
For more: FEMA search and rescue leader quits amid Texas flood response delays
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FEMA search and rescue leader quits amid Texas flood response delays
Ken Pagurek resigned as chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's urban search and rescue unit, citing bureaucratic hurdles imposed by the Trump administration that slowed the agency’s response to deadly Texas floods earlier this month.
In short:
- Pagurek opposed a new policy requiring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s personal approval for purchases over $100,000, which critics say delayed flood relief.
- The Texas Hill Country floods on July 4 killed 120 people and exposed gaps in FEMA’s deployment, prompting calls for a congressional investigation.
- FEMA has lost roughly a quarter of its staff under Trump’s downsizing push, fueling concerns about the agency’s ability to manage worsening climate disasters.
Key quote:
“The people that are there will work hard, but when you lose that experience its hard to replace.”
— Michael Coen, former FEMA chief of staff
Why this matters:
FEMA’s search and rescue teams are often the last lifeline during disasters, arriving when state and local systems are overwhelmed. As climate change drives more frequent and severe floods, hurricanes, and wildfires, the agency’s capacity to respond quickly can mean the difference between life and death. Bureaucratic delays in disaster response not only slow rescues but also worsen public trust in government, leaving vulnerable communities exposed. Texas’s recent flooding shows how policy decisions at the federal level ripple outward, affecting on-the-ground operations when every hour counts.
Related: Texas flood response prompts scrutiny of FEMA delays and leadership
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Texas floods reignite fight over FEMA and weather cuts
Catastrophic floods in central Texas have deepened partisan divides in Congress, with Democrats accusing President Trump’s administration of weakening the country’s ability to prevent and respond to natural disasters.
In short:
- Democrats are demanding investigations into whether staffing cuts and budget reductions at the National Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Trump administration worsened the impact of flooding that killed over 100 people in Texas.
- The White House and Republican lawmakers deny any connection between federal agency changes and the disaster, calling such claims politically motivated and misleading.
- Multiple bills are being proposed to reform FEMA, bolster disaster preparedness, and address communication issues during emergencies, including efforts to make alerts available in more languages.
Key quote:
“The President threatening to eliminate FEMA, firing scientists, and muzzling experts helps no one and puts us all in danger.”
— Bennie Thompson, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee
Why this matters:
Floods are getting deadlier and more frequent as the climate warms and infrastructure ages, but federal disaster response and forecasting systems are being asked to do more with less. When agencies like NOAA or FEMA face staff shortages and budget cuts, it can mean slower warnings, missed threats, and communities left without help in the aftermath. Forecasting errors or communication gaps during extreme weather events can cost lives. If the public loses trust in these agencies, or if their capacity shrinks further, the nation’s safety net for climate-fueled disasters could erode just as demand for it is rising.
Read more: Texas flooding puts scaled-back FEMA under scrutiny
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