Trump's plan to eliminate FEMA fails after deadly floods
- The Texas floods of July 4, 2024, led to over 120 deaths and called into question the effectiveness of FEMA.
- Despite President Trump's previous calls to abolish FEMA, the administration backed away from eliminating the agency following the disaster.
- The incident underscores the critical need for federal involvement in disaster management, especially given the increasing frequency of natural disasters.
In the United States, a series of devastating floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas resulted in significant loss of life and heightened scrutiny of federal disaster response mechanisms. On July 4, 2024, these floods caused extensive damage, killing over 120 individuals, including 36 children. Prior to this disaster, President Donald Trump, along with his administration, had been vocal about potentially abolishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), asserting that it was ineffective in its current form. Trump's statements included plans for a review to assess FEMA's capabilities in disaster response, which some viewed as an indication of intent to eliminate the agency entirely. In the wake of the Texas floods, it became apparent that the concept of abolishing FEMA faced backlash. Following the tragedy, the White House shifted its position, announcing that plans to eliminate FEMA were no longer on the agenda. Tricia McLauglin, a DHS assistant secretary, indicated a desire to