CNN: Trump Signs Major Disaster Declaration for Texas, National Weather Service Is ‘Downplaying’ Vacancies

EXCERPT:

LIPTAK: “But there are some questions that are being raised about the staffing levels at the National Weather Service in some of these local offices in Texas. One critical position was the warning coordination meteorologist in the Austin, San Antonio office. That position was left vacant. There were some other vacancies, as well, that came about because of these early retirement initiatives that President Trump had put in place early in his term as a bid to reduce the size of the federal government. Now, we have heard from some officials, including at the National Weather Service Union, that are downplaying the role that these vacancies had. They said they do have adequate staffing and resources.”