NEW: Trump “Systematically Reduced” Access to Natural Disaster Prevention Programs & Created Red Tape That Slowed Down Relief Arrow

In response to the Trump administration gutting natural disaster prevention resources, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

"The ongoing tragedy in Texas is a horrific example of Donald Trump's stunning disregard for the American people. While parents are mourning the loss of their children, Trump and Kristi Noem are playing partisan games with disaster relief and putting even more lives at risk. As Trump ignores experts and slashes critical natural disaster prevention resources, even Republicans are criticizing the Trump administration's reckless and senseless actions. Every day that Trump refuses to restore critical safety services is another day Americans everywhere are in danger."

NEW: In the wake of the devastating Texas floods, Republicans are fed up with Donald Trump and Kristi Noem's sweeping cuts to natural disaster prevention and mitigation.

NOTUS: "President Donald Trump's administration has systematically reduced states' access to resources to safeguard their people against natural disasters, frustrating city and state leaders across the country - including from communities that overwhelmingly voted for Trump. …

"In February, the Trump administration took down the application for the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program, which was supposed to make $600 million in grants available this year to reduce long-term flood risks, especially for properties that are covered by government-funded flood insurance. …

"Other Republicans have also challenged FEMA on the BRIC program in hearings and letters: Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. …

"The Trump administration isn't just removing funding - it's also reducing disaster mitigation regulations. In March, FEMA revoked the requirement that structures like hospitals, wastewater treatment plants and fire stations damaged in previous floods be designed to withstand greater risks if they want to use federal dollars to rebuild."

Instead of working to get Texans critical resources, Noem spent her weekend lying on the Sunday shows and refusing to accept responsibility for her own regulations that slowed down aid.

CNN: "FEMA's response to Texas flood slowed by Noem's cost controls"

"As CNN has previously reported, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem - whose department oversees FEMA - recently enacted a sweeping rule aimed at cutting spending: Every contract and grant over $100,000 now requires her personal sign-off before any funds can be released. …

"But even as Texas rescue crews raced to save lives, FEMA officials realized they needed Noem's approval before sending those additional assets. Noem didn't authorize FEMA's deployment of Urban Search and Rescue teams until Monday, more than 72 hours after the flooding began, multiple sources told CNN. …

"FEMA staff have also been answering phones at a disaster call center, where, according to one agency official, callers have faced longer wait times as the agency awaited Noem's approval for a contract to bring in additional support staff."

Kristen Welker: "It reportedly requires that every FEMA contract, every grant over $100,000 be personally approved by you. Now, officials within the agency have told multiple news outlets that the policy led to a slower deployment of some FEMA resources … Did your policy delay some of the critical response resources on the ground in Texas?"

Kristi Noem: "Those claims are absolutely false."

REMINDER: Trump and Noem have a history of playing politics with disaster relief.

Trump: "If you add Los Angeles into it then you can really do one, big beautiful bill because frankly they want that so badly. They want the money to go out there so badly. And I don't think we should do a bill until Los Angeles is included, and when Los Angeles is included, we get everything we want."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal: "I assume you will agree with me that withholding disaster relief by President Trump … is a violation of his duty and of law?"

Noem: *Dodges*

Blumenthal: "I want to ask you yes or no, with all due respect."

Noem: *Continues to avoid question*

Blumenthal: "So, if President Trump were to say to you, we're going to withhold money from Connecticut, or Michigan … because we don't like the governor or we don't like the politics of the state, you would stand up to him and say, Mr. President, we need to allocate that money?"

Noem: "… I don't speak to hypotheticals."

###