Central Texas was devastated by catastrophic flash floods on July 4, 2025, when the Guadalupe River surged nearly 30 feet, claiming at least 120 lives, including 36 children, and leaving over 150 people missing. The disaster, one of the deadliest inland floods in Texas in nearly half a century, exposed critical failures in the federal response, with fingers pointing to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. A new policy requiring Noem’s personal approval for all Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contracts and grants exceeding $100,000 significantly delayed the deployment of vital resources, according to multiple sources within the agency. This bureaucratic bottleneck, aimed at cost-cutting, has drawn fierce criticism for hampering life-saving efforts when every moment was critical.
FEMA, tasked with coordinating federal disaster response, was poised to deploy Urban Search and Rescue teams as floodwaters ravaged communities around Kerrville. However, the agency was stalled by Noem’s directive, implemented months earlier, mandating her sign-off on expenditures. Sources reported to CNN that these teams, trained for catastrophic floods, were not authorized until Monday, over 72 hours after the flooding began. Texas officials also faced delays in obtaining aerial imagery from FEMA for search and rescue operations, as these requests awaited Noem’s approval. Disaster call centers, overwhelmed with desperate pleas, experienced longer wait times due to delays in approving additional staff contracts.
The limited federal response was starkly evident in the numbers. By Monday night, only 86 FEMA staffers were deployed, a fraction of the typical response for a disaster of this magnitude, according to internal FEMA data. By Tuesday, this number grew to 311, but insiders expressed shock at the sluggish pace. The tragedy unfolded as campers and families celebrating the Independence Day weekend were swept away, with the death toll climbing daily. Texas, with its robust state emergency management system, deployed over 1,750 personnel, supplemented by aid from Arkansas and Louisiana, yet federal support lagged.
Noem’s policy aligns with the Trump administration’s push to shift disaster response burdens to states, with calls to overhaul or eliminate FEMA. At a FEMA Review Council meeting, Noem reiterated her vision for a “lean, deployable” agency that empowers state-led efforts, claiming the old system failed Americans. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the response, asserting that other federal assets, like the Coast Guard, filled initial gaps. However, critics argue that the delays cost lives, with social media posts amplifying calls for Noem’s resignation, labeling her actions as negligent.
The Texas floods have reignited debates over FEMA’s future, especially as hurricane and wildfire seasons loom. Former FEMA officials warn that the agency’s reduced staff—cut by a third since January—and loss of experienced leaders exacerbate the crisis. Acting Administrator David Richardson’s absence from the disaster site further underscores concerns about leadership. As Texas grapples with loss and recovery, the nation watches, questioning whether cost-cutting measures have come at an unforgivable human cost.
