As floodwaters recede in central Texas, heartbreaking stories emerge, and blame is being directed at the top, including Donald Trump and Elon Musk. At least 82 people have died in the catastrophic Texas floods since July 4, with 41 still missing. Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, was especially hard hit, with 68 bodies found there. One counselor and 10 girls remain missing.
Officials say earlier budget cuts under the Trump administration weakened the National Weather Service (NWS) and NOAA, leaving key forecasting positions unfilled. A New York Times report highlighted vacancies in senior meteorologists and hydrologists who are crucial for timely warnings.
The warning meteorologist at San Antonio’s office retired in April under a Trump-era program. However, some staffing gaps existed before Trump’s second term began in 2025. Kerr County gave no formal evacuation orders before the storm. Officials admitted they don’t know why.
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok controversially confirmed that Trump-era cuts contributed to the disaster by underestimating rainfall and delaying warnings. This sparked debate and backlash online. The NWS lost about 600 staff due to budget cuts, affecting emergency readiness.
While Musk stayed silent on the floods, Trump declared a major disaster for Kerr County and promised a visit. Many feel the response came too late.
Camp Mystic’s dormitories lie in ruin, and families mourn. The tragedy has raised anger not only at nature but at perceived human failures to prepare.
