In the United States, they pointed out the negative consequences of reducing the funding of the emergency management agency.

The reduction in funding for the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) makes the agency unable to respond promptly to disasters. Mary-Ann Tierney, former Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, writes about this on July 7 for The New York Times.

"Today, the [rapid disaster response] system is cracking. The help that Americans rely on in the most difficult times runs the risk of coming late, not being powerful enough, or not coming at all. Early Friday morning brought a fresh reminder of what's at stake. At least 81 people, including 28 children, have died in the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas," Tierney wrote.

According to her, disasters have struck the region, which is still reeling from the floods that occurred in the spring of 2025.

"Since January, the Federal Emergency Management Agency <...> has lost more than 20% of its permanent staff <...> every day, the federal agency is becoming less prepared to face the next major disaster. And as the risk increases, the ability to carry out its vital disaster response mission is reduced," the article says.

According to Tierney, more than 7,000 emergency personnel were unable to complete courses on responding to mass accidents and catastrophic natural disasters.

"FEMA employees, as well as other federal employees, are now afraid to make basic decisions for fear of punishment for actions without permission. Employees are told to stay where they are, even if the work requires flexibility and responsiveness," Tierney notes.

US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to phase out FEMA operations after the 2025 hurricane season and transfer long-term reconstruction responsibilities to the states or other parts of the federal government.

Critical government tasks are being shifted to state and local partners who "do not have the staffing, funding, or infrastructure to succeed," Tierney stresses.

"This is the collapse of the system. The result is a slower, weaker, more fragmented federal response to the very disasters that are becoming more frequent and more complex. This is not because the people inside these agencies are incapable, but because they are being held back by a system that has been depleted," the article says.

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The day before, the head of the White House on the same day introduced a state of emergency in Kerr County, Texas due to flooding. He noted that the signed document is a guarantee that rescuers will receive all the necessary resources for their activities.