Johnson Demands Hearing on Federal Response to Catastrophic Texas Floods

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), Vice Ranking Member of the Committee and Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, demanded Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (TN-07) immediately convene an oversight hearingon the federal government's preparedness for and response to the catastrophic floods that struck Central Texas over the July 4th weekend.

"The flooding-which has killed over 100 people, displaced hundreds, and devastated communities along the Guadalupe River-raises serious concerns about FEMA's readiness," the Members wrote. "The potential gaps in the emergency alert system during this catastrophe did not occur in a vacuum. The Trump administration has taken alarming steps to weaken FEMA's ability to carry out its mission."

"The danger is not over-in fact, the most active part of the hurricane season has not yet begun," the Members added. "Without a fully staffed and adequately funded FEMA, communities impacted by the flooding in Texas-as well as communities that will be affected by disasters in the future-may face unnecessary obstacles in accessing assistance, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and receiving long-term hazard mitigation support."

FEMA is the Federal agency responsible for helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Its mission depends on a trained workforce, strong coordination with state and local governments, and reliable public alert systems. President Trump has repeatedly proposed eliminating FEMA entirely and shifting its responsibilities to the states-which would gut the nation's disaster response system just as climate-fueled emergencies grow more frequent and severe.

"We urge you to hold a hearing immediately to examine the Trump administration's actions to undermine FEMA, assess the consequences for disaster readiness and recovery, and determine how Congress can ensure that the Agency remains capable of fulfilling its mission."

View the full letter below. To view the full letter including Members who signed onto the letter, click here.

Dear Chairman Green:

We write to request that you immediately convene an oversight hearing on the Federal government's preparedness for and response to the catastrophic flooding that occurred in Central Texas over the July 4th weekend to determine whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is adequately resourced to help states and localities prepare for and respond to future disasters. The flooding-which has killed over 100 people, displaced hundreds, and devastated communities along the Guadalupe River-raises serious concerns about FEMA's readiness and highlights the damaging role that the Trump administration has played in weakening the Federal government's capacity to respond to disasters.

Breakdowns in the public alert system during the Central Texas flooding reveal potential weaknesses in how emergency warnings are communicated and acted upon. Although the National Weather Service (NWS) issued flood warnings, many residents in Kerr County, especially campers and those in remote areas-never received them. Reportedly, local officials failed to send alerts through FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) until two days after the flooding began.

The potential gaps in the emergency alert system during this catastrophe did not occur in a vacuum. The Trump administration has taken alarming steps to weaken FEMA's ability to carry out its mission. President Trump has repeatedly proposed eliminating and phasing out FEMA and shifting responsibility to states, stating that if governors cannot handle the aftermath of a disaster, "then maybe they shouldn't be governor."

Former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell warned just last month: "The consequences of losing FEMA or weakening its ability to function would be catastrophic… Eliminating FEMA does not eliminate disasters-it just eliminates our ability to help the people that are impacted by them." MaryAnn Tierney-the former acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and former acting deputy administrator of FEMA-wrote after the Texas flooding that "with each passing day, the Federal government is becoming less prepared to face the next big disaster."

Tierney's warning reflects not a future threat, but a crisis already unfolding. Tierney observed that "Since January, [FEMA] has lost more than 20 percent of its permanent staff-its most experienced, field-ready responders," noting that the agency cannot replace these staff or bring in new talent because of hiring restrictions. FEMA's staffing losses stem directly from politically driven mandates carried out by President Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Tierney further noted that 7,000 emergency personnel were locked out of FEMA training that "isn't theoretical. It saves lives." Further, the Trump administration has defunded FEMA Corps and has allowed critical contracts-such as those for evacuation logistics, shelter operations, and flood insurance-to lapse. Trump's hiring freezes and staff purges have drained institutional knowledge and crippled FEMA's readiness-all before Congress even considers the president's proposed $646 million budget cut for fiscal year 2026.

At the same time, the Trump administration has canceled the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, clawing back $4.5 billion that would have helped communities prepare for disasters. Over $510 million of these funds were reportedly intended for the state of Texas.

The danger is not over-in fact, the most active part of the hurricane season has not yet begun. Without a fully staffed and adequately funded FEMA, communities impacted by the flooding in Texas-as well as communities that will be affected by disasters in the future-may face unnecessary obstacles in accessing assistance, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and receiving long-term hazard mitigation support.

We urge you to hold a hearing immediately to examine the Trump administration's actions to undermine FEMA, assess the consequences for disaster readiness and recovery, and determine how Congress can ensure that the Agency remains capable of fulfilling its mission.

Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas' 32^nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.

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