Critics Say Bush Undercut New Orleans Flood Control
By Jim VandeHei and Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 2, 2005; Page A16

President Bush repeatedly requested less money for programs to guard against catastrophic storms in New Orleans than many federal and state officials requested, decisions that are triggering a partisan debate over administration priorities at a time when the budget is strained by the Iraq war.

Even with full funding in recent years, none of the flood-control projects would have been completed in time to prevent the swamping of the city, as Democrats yesterday acknowledged. But they said Bush’s decision to hold down spending on fortifying levees around New Orleans reflected a broader shuffling of resources — to pay for tax cuts and the Iraq invasion — that has left the United States more vulnerable.

Is Bush to Blame for New Orleans Flooding – FactCheck.org

Our fact-checking confirms that Bush indeed cut funding for projects specifically designed to strengthen levees. Indeed, local officials had been complaining about that for years.

It is not so clear whether the money Bush cut from levee projects would have made any difference, however, and we’re not in a position to judge that. The Army Corps of Engineers — which is under the President’s command and has its own reputation to defend — insists that Katrina was just too strong, and that even if the levee project had been completed it was only designed to withstand a category 3 hurricane.