Federal disaster declaration expands to more Texas counties
At least 160 people are still missing as a result of the floods, which followed torrential rain over the July 4 weekend. At least 120 people are dead in six counties.
Five Texas counties near Austin — Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williams — will now be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for individuals. Local governments in Kendall, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba counties are also now eligible for federal grants to restore public infrastructure or otherwise recover from the disaster.
'There has been extraordinary collaboration with the state and the federal government to make sure that we address Texans' needs as quickly as possible through disaster assistance programs. The State of Texas will continue to work with our federal and local partners to provide impacted Texans with the support they need to heal and recover,' Abbott said in a statement.
President Trump visited Texas Friday to assess the damage from the floods. He had previously pledged that he would do away with FEMA and return disaster response to the states.
The federal government's response to the floods has come under criticism amidst reports that it may have been delayed by budgetary restrictions. CNN and The Washington Post have reported that a new policy requiring Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to approve purchases over $100,000 has limited FEMA's ability to position disaster response teams.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Gives Pam Bondi Verdict Amid Reports of Clash With FBI
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump broke his silence one day after reports of a clash between U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino about the release of a memo regarding Jeffrey Epstein, which prompted conservatives on social media to call for the president to fire her. In a lengthy Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump stressed that Bondi is "doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" and that he has a "PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD." Why It Matters Epstein, the financier and sex offender who died in prison six years ago, socialized with some of the world's most powerful people. While his death was ruled a suicide, conspiracy theories persist that he was instead killed due to his purported "client list," which many have speculated to contain the names of politicians including Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Britain's Prince Andrew. Billionaire Elon Musk last month said the government had not released records related to the case because Trump "is in the Epstein files." While the president has dismissed Musk's claim, it has sparked further interest in the government's records. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump suggested he would release files related to Epstein, with a first batch publicized in February by Bondi. However, earlier this week, Trump and Bondi said they found "no incriminating 'client list'" related to Epstein, triggering major backlash among Democrats and the president's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) supporters. Earlier this week, NewsNation reported that Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel wanted to unseal evidence months ago and release "every single piece of evidence they could, while protecting victims." Bongino has denied the allegation, but on Friday CNN reported that he was considering quitting his post over the dispute. What To Know Tensions within the Trump administration escalated after a heated exchange earlier in the week between Bongino and Bondi regarding management of the Epstein case, CNN's Kaitlan Collins reported Friday. Multiple sources told the outlet that Bongino did not turn up to work on Friday, increasing speculation that he is eyeing an exit. Far-right political activist Laura Loomer stirred up conservatives on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday after news broke that Bongino's reported decision to stay or leave was contingent on whether Bondi quit as attorney general. Loomer wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Bongino may quit unless Bondi left, and that "the MAGA base would like to see Trump FIRE Blondi [sic]. She is a massive liability to this otherwise great administration." Other conservatives, including Charlie Kirk, Megyn Kelly, and former Representative George Santos, called for Trump to fire Bondi and back Bongino. However, on Saturday, Trump made clear that he backed his attorney general, writing, "LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE'S GREAT!" "What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?'" Trump asked. "They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein. For years, it's Epstein, over and over again." Trump then criticized coverage of the Epstein files, which he wrote were created by "Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 'Intelligence' Agents, 'THE LAPTOP FROM HELL,' and more." He continued: "No matter how much success we have had, securing the Border, deporting Criminals, fixing the Economy, Energy Dominance, a Safer World where Iran will not have Nuclear Weapons, it's never enough for some people. We are about to achieve more in 6 months than any other Administration has achieved in over 100 years, and we have so much more to do." Later in the post, Trump wrote that "Kash Patel, and the FBI, must be focused on investigating Voter Fraud, Political Corruption, ActBlue, The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020, and arresting Thugs and Criminals, instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein." Trump then said he had tasked Bondi with looking into the 2020 and 2024 elections, once again saying the former had been "rigged and stolen," before touting the U.S. is now the "HOTTEST" country "anywhere in the world." "Let's keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about," he concluded. President Donald Trump participates in a round table event at the Hill Country Youth Event Center to discuss last week's flash flooding on July 11 in Kerrville, Texas. President Donald Trump participates in a round table event at the Hill Country Youth Event Center to discuss last week's flash flooding on July 11 in Kerrville, People Are Saying FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X on Saturday afternoon: "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been. It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump — and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me." Far-right political activist Laura Loomer on Saturday wrote on X: "President Trump says he thinks Blondi [sic] is 'doing a Fantastic job' as AG in a post he posted on Truth Social today...." Fox News host Mark Levin wrote on X: "President Trump has had enough of the Epsteinian kooks. Here's his just released statement." Charlie Kirk, conservative founder and president of Turning Point USA, wrote on X: "President Trump on the Epstein Files, says he supports Pam Bondi at AG, the files are untrustworthy and created by Comey and Brennan. He wants his Justice Department focused on the voter fraud, the rigged election, ActBlue, and arresting thugs and criminals."
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Trump administration's Texas flood disaster response 'fundamentally different' from Biden's approach: Noem
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Saturday that the federal response to the deadly floods in Texas Hill Country last weekend was a good indication of the improved disaster response the Trump administration is committed to providing. Devastating floods on the Fourth of July claimed at least 119 lives, and more than 150 others are missing. Among those killed were 27 girls attending Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. "What you saw from our response in Texas is going to be a lot of how President [Donald] Trump envisions what [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] (FEMA) would look like in the future," Noem said during a news conference Saturday. "We did things in Texas, in response, very different than Joe Biden." In response to the 2023 Ohio train derailment in East Palestine, the Biden administration said the chemical disaster did not meet legal requirements for a FEMA disaster declaration, waiting two weeks to deploy a team to assist. In the 2023 Maui fires, more than 100 people were killed, and historic Lahaina was reduced to rubble. Survivors were left without food, water and shelter. At the time, FEMA Administrator Michael Brown called President Joe Biden's response to the deadly fires "an abject failure." Slow responses and inadequate aid were also widely reported after Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina in late 2024. "I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump said in January while visiting North Carolina. "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good." Noem noted that, during the most recent disaster, federal assistance was on the ground in Texas as soon as the flooding hit. "We deployed our Coast Guard, helicopters, [aircraft] and swift water rescue teams out of Customs and Border Protection," she said. "Our [Border Patrol Tactical Unit] (BORTAC) teams, which I like to call the Department of Homeland Security's ninjas, are specifically trained for situations like that, where the unprecedented is happening." After the floods, Noem said she immediately met with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and spoke with him about getting a major disaster declaration signed. Within an hour or two of the request, she said, it was approved by the White House. "We pre-deployed dollars right to Texas so that they can make the best decisions responding to their people," Noem said. "FEMA has never done that before — pre-deployed dollars to a state so that they could use that to save their people, so they could use that to go out and save lives." Noem said the president wants the states to be empowered during emergencies. "Emergencies are locally executed," she said. "They are state-managed and then the federal government comes in and supports you. [No one] ever wants to sit back and wait for someone from the federal government to show up and rescue you out of your house because that, in the past, has not served people well under the Biden administration. Under President Trump, Noem said, federal officials were there immediately to help local and state officials manage the response. She added her belief that FEMA "will cease to exist the way that it is today." "We are fundamentally reforming that agency," Noem said. "President Trump may want to, in his prerogative, as he likes to do, rename things. He may come up with a new name for this agency that reflects the fundamental change that's going to happen there. But this agency will no longer be the bureaucratic agency where people have to wait 20 years for their claim to be paid. "It will be an agency that immediately says to that state, and to that local emergency management director, 'What do you need? How can we support you?' And then trains them to have the skill set that they need to be serving their people immediately, because they're always there faster. They're right there on the streets." It is unclear what the new agency name might be. When asked about reports of calls to FEMA from Texas residents going unanswered, Noem said she was "throwing the bull---- flag," claiming she did not think that was true. "I will get rid of any contract that doesn't respond to people because they know they are empowered to do it," she said. FEMA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The Hill
4 hours ago
- The Hill
Sunday shows preview: Trump shifts tone on FEMA after Texas floods; Epstein files divide MAGA
The Trump administration has changed its tune on federal funding for disasters following the Texas floods that swept through Kerr County. GOP lawmakers took turns touring the damage in surrounding communities after the Guadalupe River's waters swelled far beyond its capacity, leaving cars overturned and leading to at least 166 missing people. Officials said at least 129 people died from the flash floods. Amid requests to alter the Lone Star state's response systems were broader calls to restructure the Federal Emergency Response Agency (FEMA) to better suit natural disaster recovery efforts across the country. Trump officials have backed the effort, promising to issue cost-effective measures for federally funded disaster relief — a sharp change in tune from previous statements proposing that the Trump administration would shutter the agency. 'Federal Emergency Management will shift from bloated, D.C.-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades,' Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, told The Hill. 'Under [Homeland Security] Secretary Noem's leadership, the FEMA Review Council is developing a comprehensive plan for necessary change,' she added. Earlier this year, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Trump wants 'to see FEMA eliminated as it exists today,' while the president later mentioned the changes would include giving out 'less money.' She will likely defend the White House's approach to reshuffling FEMA during appearances on Fox News' 'Fox News Sunday' and NBC's 'Meet the Press.' Former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will likely discuss how to revamp the agency to be more efficient and effective during a Sunday appearance on ABC's 'This Week.' Criswell resigned from her post in January after being scrutinized for response efforts during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A month later, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) requested $40 billion in assistance to aid recovery efforts for the Golden State's sweeping wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Newsom and Trump stood off in a heated debate regarding the wildfires and funding to address them. Pete Gaynor, another former FEMA Administrator, will also discuss how to better address the nation's natural emergencies during his appearance on ABC's 'This Week.' While agency appointees uncover methods for unexpected weather, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) announced that she will introduce a bill aiming to ban weather modification. The Georgia lawmaker has amplified theories regarding attempts to alter weather patterns throughout the U.S. As Greene frets over meteorology, Trump loyalist Steve Bannon has warned of a gloomy forecast for House GOP incumbents. The former White House aide said approximately 40 seats could be overturned due to controversy regarding the administration's handling of the Epstein files. Attorney General Pam Bondi previously said she had a list of client names 'sitting on her desk,' however, the Department of Justice and FBI released a memo on Monday alleging the financier kept no record of his clientele. Some have accused the White House of concealing records regarding wealthy billionaires who engaged in Epstein's sex trafficking escapades. Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser, will likely address the ever-evolving storyline regarding the convicted sex offender and financier and its potential impact on the 2026 midterm election during an appearance on Fox News's 'Sunday Morning Futures.' Democrats have jeered as the public digests statements from the White House and other agencies regarding Epstein. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) will likely discuss the internal perspective of party members looking to regain seats in red districts as next year's campaigns heat up on CBS's 'Face the Nation.' All this and more will be highlighted on this week's Sunday shows. Please see the full list of guests below: NewsNation's 'The Hill Sunday': Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.). ABC's 'This Week': Kevin Hassett, White House National Economic Council Director; Deanne Criswell, Former FEMA Administrator; Pete Gaynor, Former FEMA Administrator Fox's 'Fox News Sunday': Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem; Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.); Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) Fox New's 'Sunday Morning Futures': House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.); Kevin Warsh, Former Federal Reserve Governor; Carter Page, Former Trump Campaign Adviser; RET. Gen Jack Keane, Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst; Chairman, Institute For The Study Of War, Fmr Vice Chief Of Staff Of The Army NBC 'Meet the Press': Noem; Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.); Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D). CNN's 'State of the Union': Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.); Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). CBS's 'Face the Nation': Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.); Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.); Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.); Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.)
