Overview

• Former NOAA employees who were fired in February, reinstated in March and fired again in April have received debt notices dated June 16 for health coverage they say they never had.
• The demand letters warn of interest charges and potential credit reporting for premiums billed after workers’ plans had already lapsed.
• NOAA sent an email to affected probationary staff acknowledging possible errors and said it is working with the National Finance Center to correct the billing.
• The repeated firings and reinstatements have led to the loss of more than 2,000 staffers, roughly 20% of NOAA’s workforce, straining its operations.
• President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal would cut $1.6 billion from NOAA and abolish its primary science office, threatening future weather and climate research.