Texas Democratic Reps. Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett are demanding details and documents from federal agencies taskedwith tracking and respondingto disasters after catastrophic flooding in recent dayskilled more than 100 peoplein Texas Hill Country. Crockett and CasarpennedlettersFriday seeking information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aboutpreparations for and response tothe Texas flood. Their inquiries center on whether recent Department of Government Efficiencycuts to the National Weather Service(NWS) played a role or if Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, impededsearch and rescue effortswith certain rules. The letters from Casar and Crockett, who sit on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, were also signed by the committee's ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). "The tragic loss of life suffered underscores the urgent need to understand whatcontributed to this disaster," the lawmakers wrote in the letters. "Rigorous oversight is needed not only to provide answers to grieving communities in Central Texas, but to save lives in future extreme weather events." In their letter directed to FEMA acting chief David Richardson, the Democratic lawmakers asked the agency to providerecords of communicationswith Noem and her top aides, as well as all documents and discussions regarding state and local requests to DHS or FEMA. CNNreported Thursdaythat Noem's cost control measures that require her direct approval for all contracts and grants more than $100,000 may have slowed the federal response to the Texas floods. Noem rejected the notion during an appearance on Fox News later that day. "Fake News," she said. "It's absolutely trash what they're doing by saying that." President Trump, whois in the Lone Star Stateto survey the damage, has also come to the former South Dakota governor's defense,telling NBC News late Thursdaythat Noem was "right on the ball" and has "done a great job." The Texas Democrats are specifically requesting "any policies, procedures, memos, or internal reports detailing the DHS Secretary's authority related to spending rules" and "any written directive, policy, memo, or other document related to the requirement to get Secretary Noem's approval for any contracts or grants over $100,000." Their letter to NOAA, meanwhile, centered on how the public was alerted about the threat of dangerous flash flooding. They requested communications that took place between NOAA and Texas authorities and with local media, copies of NWS emergency alerts and a "detailed explanation" about how the national Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert System were used. The lawmakers alsopenned a third letterFriday, urging the Commerce Department's inspector general, which oversees NOAA, to conduct an investigation into disaster warning systems. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
