Fact Check: "Last week, we call for a full-scale investigation into Trump's abysmal handling of the Texas floods and Senator Ruben Gallego agrees. He's calling for a full-scale investigation because we've gotta know what happened."
What We Know
Recently, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) indeed called for a formal investigation into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem's response to the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, which resulted in over 130 deaths and left more than 170 people missing (Gallego Demands Investigation into Secretary Noem’s ...). In a letter to DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Gallego and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) expressed concerns that a new DHS policy requiring personal approval for FEMA contracts over $100,000 delayed the agency's response to the crisis, potentially leading to preventable loss of life (Politico).
The senators highlighted that FEMA's typical proactive measures were hindered by this bureaucratic red tape, which they argued contradicted the administration's goals of efficient disaster response (Gallego Demands Investigation into Secretary Noem’s ...).
Analysis
The claim that Senator Gallego is calling for an investigation is accurate; however, the assertion that it is specifically about "Trump's abysmal handling" of the floods is misleading. The investigation is aimed at Secretary Noem's management of FEMA's response rather than directly at former President Trump himself. While the administration's policies under Trump may have influenced FEMA's operational capacity, the letter from Gallego and Blumenthal does not directly implicate Trump in the failures of the response (Politico).
The sources used in this analysis are credible, as they come from official press releases and established news outlets. The letter from Gallego is a primary source that clearly outlines the concerns regarding FEMA's response, while the Politico article provides context about the political implications of the flooding and the investigation (Gallego Demands Investigation into Secretary Noem’s ..., Politico).
However, it is important to note that while the call for investigation is a serious matter, the framing of the claim could lead to misconceptions about the direct accountability of Trump in this specific incident, as the focus is on DHS and FEMA's operational failures.
Conclusion
Verdict: Partially True
The claim that Senator Ruben Gallego is calling for a full-scale investigation into the handling of the Texas floods is accurate. However, the assertion that this is a direct indictment of Trump's handling of the situation is misleading. The investigation is focused on the actions of Secretary Noem and FEMA, not Trump directly. Thus, while the call for investigation is valid, the context in which it is presented could lead to misunderstandings regarding accountability.
