Heeding Schumer’s Call, Commerce Department Independent IG Launches Audit Of National Weather Service Response To Deadly Texas Flooding And Operations Nationwide

New York, N.Y. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer released the following statement after the Commerce Department Inspector General announced it will heed his demand and open an audit into staffing levels and the potential ramifications of cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) and potential impact on the response to Texas flooding:

“When Mother Nature strikes, Americans need to trust that the National Weather Service will be there to provide timely, accurate forecasting and early warnings to keep communities safe and guide first responders. I am glad the Commerce Department Inspector General’s office has heeded my call to investigate the devastating effects of the slash-and-burn approach that Trump has taken to staffing these essential weather programs that Americans rely upon on a daily basis. Americans need to know our government can protect them and their families in the case of disasters and extreme weather events. As those in Texas continue to mourn their catastrophic losses and rebuild their communities and lives, the NWS must examine what – if any – of the actions preceding this tragic event may have exacerbated the catastrophe, and then fix these flaws and apply this knowledge to communities around the country. We have to make sure our advanced warning and emergency response systems are operating with full resources, so we are taking every available step to ensure a tragedy like this does not happen anywhere again in the U.S.”

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