Warning systems for floods, hurricanes, and famine are suffering from Donald Trump’s data purge
1 min read
Summary
Donald Trump’s approach to disaster relief and prevention is problematic, and could be deadly.
Trump has cut funding for several organisations that collect and distribute environmental and climate data around the globe, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which collates information on potential natural disasters.
This puts improvements to early warning systems globally at risk, meaning prevention measures can’t be put in place quickly enough to enact meaningful change.
For example, the Famine Early Warning System (FEWS NET), which serves regions most susceptible to famine and food insecurity, is no longer operational, and there are considerable uncertainties regarding its future.
Since taking office, Trump has refused to provide funding to combat the causes and effects of natural disasters, such as drought and flooding.
This unwillingness to fund relief programmes could lead to an increase in the number of people around the globe experiencing weather-related disasters and starvation.