Reps. Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett Lead Oversight Push to Get Answers on Texas Floods, Disaster Preparedness

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Greg Casar and Rep. Jasmine Crockett of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, backed by Ranking Member Robert Garcia, sent three letters demanding answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Commerce Inspector General, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  The letters request information about the lead up and response to the recent Texas flooding tragedy and preparedness for future emergencies, including the impact of DOGE cuts on the National Weather Service (NWS), and demand answers about Secretary Kristi Noem’s reported delay of FEMA search and rescue assets.

All three letters request information related to the July 2025 flooding in Central Texas and emphasize the ongoing threat to Texas communities and the need to understand these events to prepare for future disasters.

A letter to FEMA requests documents related to reports that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s policies delayed FEMA’s deployment of search and rescue teams, aerial imagery, and additional staff for disaster call centers. 

“We are deeply concerned not only that Secretary Noem may have effectively crippled the agency’s ability to respond to this crisis, but also that she failed to personally act to ensure a timely response.  While many facts are still unclear in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, we are concerned about its implications for FEMA’s ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters in the future and to effectively carry out its search and rescue functions, as well as subsequent recovery efforts,” wrote the Members in their letter to FEMA.  Read the full letter here.

Letters to the Department of Commerce Inspector General and NOAA focus on reported failures of the early warning system to reach everyone in the impacted area.  They also raise concerns about the fact that on the day of the flooding, “multiple positions at local NWS offices were vacant.”

“Rather than working to make NWS stronger and more effective, the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have focused on staffing and resource cuts that risk seriously jeopardizing NOAA and NWS’ capacity.  Arbitrary cuts to vital services like NWS hurt emergency preparedness and put lives in danger,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter to the Department of Commerce Inspector General.

“Crucial information is needed to fully assess any impact of these vacancies on the July 2025 tragedy and on future weather disasters that could threaten American lives without the right personnel in place. The tragic loss of life underscores the urgent need to understand what contributed to this disaster and how we can better prepare for future disasters.  Rigorous oversight is needed not only to provide answers to grieving communities in Central Texas, but also to save lives in future extreme weather events,” wrote the Members in their letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

They request a series of documents, including all communication with Texas state and local authorities and emergency personnel regarding the floods. Read the letter to the Inspector General here and to NOAA here.

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