Warning systems for floods, hurricanes, and famine are suffering from Donald Trump’s data purge

Key health and environmental resources, including flood and famine warning systems, began disappearing from federal websites shortly after President Trump took office.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) was also dismantled by Trump, cutting off funding and data flow that aid organizations rely on to prevent famine and issue warnings ahead of natural disasters.
Experts warn that the loss of data is making it harder to predict and prepare for natural disasters, such as droughts, flash flooding, and hurricanes.
The US collects vast amounts of weather and climate data, which is essential for humanitarian efforts around the world, but this data is now at risk due to Trump’s administration changes.
Former contractors and experts are sounding the alarm about the impact of these changes on global food security and disaster preparedness, citing the importance of verifiable data in informing decision-making.

Within weeks of President Trump stepping into office, key health and environmental resources that doctors and farmers rely on started disappearing from federal websites. Trump was also quick to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), cutting off funding – as well as the flow of data that people around the world use to prevent famine and issue warnings ahead of natural disasters.

“As we all watched the websites being pulled down, as we all watched data disappearing, we were all concerned – because that’s truth. There’s truth in data,” says a former contractor who was granted anonymity to speak freely without fear of repercussions. “Now it’s more easy just to say something and force it as the truth. But there’s no way to back it up.”

The US collects a vast amount of weather and climate data, an essential resource for humanitarian efforts around the globe. It guides efforts to predict where droughts and crop failures might lead to food shortages, where people are at risk from flash flooding, and how to prepare for the Atlantic hurricane season. Even if these systems eventually get back up and running, erratic changes under the Trump administration are already …

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Q. What happened to key health and environmental resources after President Trump stepped into office?

A. These resources started disappearing from federal websites.

Q. Why was the US Agency for International Development (USAID) dismantled by President Trump?

A. The agency was cut off, which also stopped the flow of data used globally to prevent famine and issue warnings ahead of natural disasters.

Q. What is a crucial resource that doctors and farmers rely on?

A. Data from federal websites and international development agencies.

Q. How does the US collect weather and climate data?

A. It collects a vast amount of data, which guides humanitarian efforts around the globe.

Q. What type of data helps predict where droughts and crop failures might lead to food shortages?

A. Weather and climate data.

Q. Why is it difficult to verify information under President Trump’s administration?

A. There is no way to back up claims without data.

Q. How does the Atlantic hurricane season prepare for potential disasters?

A. With data from weather and climate resources, which helps guide preparations.

Q. What was the impact of President Trump’s actions on humanitarian efforts globally?

A. Erratic changes under his administration are already affecting these efforts.

Q. Why is truth important in data?

A. Because there’s no way to back it up without evidence.

Q. How did former contractors feel about the disappearance of data from federal websites?

A. They were concerned and felt that claims could be made without being backed up by evidence.

Q. What happened to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding under President Trump?

A. It was cut off, which also stopped the flow of data used globally.