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6h ago

Congress Reviews Trump Plan to Cut 30% of NOAA Budget Following Texas Floods

Local leaders say closing federally funded labs risks weakening the scientific foundation of weather warnings

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Flood waters left debris including vehicles and equipment scattered in Louise Hays Park on July 5, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on Monday, June 30, 2025.

Overview

  • The administration’s FY2026 budget proposal cuts NOAA funding by about 30%, reducing its budget to $4.5 billion and slashing 12,000 jobs
  • Members of Congress and local officials oppose closing labs like Norman’s National Severe Storms Laboratory, citing their role in radar innovation and support of over 900 local jobs
  • Former NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad and emergency officials highlighted a vacant warning coordination meteorologist post in Austin/San Antonio as a factor in some residents not receiving flood alerts
  • Tom Fahy of the NWS employees’ union said forecasters in San Angelo and San Antonio maintained full staffing and issued catastrophic alerts up to 22 minutes early
  • Congressional review and ongoing inquiries aim to assess how staffing gaps and research cuts may affect NOAA’s capacity to deliver life-saving weather forecasts