Who exactly is Reporting a “Disastrous response by the Federal Government” to the recent Texas Floods?

The criticism of the federal government’s response to the recent Texas floods has come from multiple directions—some grounded in policy concerns, others steeped in political maneuvering.

🌀 Who’s Calling It “Disastrous”?

Several sources have raised alarms about delays and bureaucratic hurdles:

CNN reported that FEMA’s response was slowed by a new policy from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, requiring her personal approval for contracts over $100,000. This reportedly delayed the deployment of Urban Search and Rescue teams by over 72 hours.
The New York Times and PBS highlighted FEMA call center understaffing due to contract lapses, which led to thousands of unanswered calls during the crisis.
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Jared Moskowitz and Sen. Chuck Schumer, have publicly criticized the response, with Schumer linking the tragedy to staffing cuts at the National Weather Service and FEMA.
Inside Climate News and The New Republic framed the administration’s messaging—calling the floods “an act of God”—as a rhetorical strategy to deflect accountability.

⚠️ Political Opportunism?

Yes, there’s been plenty of that too—on both sides:

Rep. Jasmine Crockett was accused of politicizing the tragedy by blaming Trump’s policies during ongoing rescue efforts, sparking backlash from conservatives and grieving families.
President Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott, and Secretary Noem have dismissed criticism as “fake news” and “blame games,” with Abbott calling questions about responsibility “the word choice of losers”.
Dan Abrams, a media commentator, defended the administration, arguing that the National Weather Service issued timely warnings and that blaming Trump was unfair and misleading.
Meanwhile, some progressive outlets argue that the administration’s push to dismantle FEMA and shift disaster response to states is a dangerous experiment that failed its first real test.

🧭 What’s Really at Stake?

Beyond the political theater, the core issues include:

Centralized vs. state-led disaster response
FEMA’s future and funding
Emergency alert infrastructure
Climate resilience and floodplain development

If you’re interested, I can help you map out the competing narratives or dig into how FEMA’s restructuring might affect future disaster responses. Want to explore that?