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2mo ago

Massive NOAA Layoffs Threaten Public Safety and Economic Stability

Up to 9% of NOAA's workforce has been terminated, raising concerns about severe weather forecasting, disaster response, and critical services.

Crews with multiple agencies assisted with water rescues in southwest Virginia in mid-February.
Signage outside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center for Weather and Climate Prediction headquarters in College Park, Maryland, US, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. The conservative Project 2025 roadmap calls for slashing NOAA funding at a time when China is investing heavily in climate research. Photographer: Michael A. McCoy/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Workers in front of monitors at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center for Weather and Climate Prediction headquarters in College Park, Maryland, US, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. The conservative Project 2025 roadmap calls for slashing NOAA funding at a time when China is investing heavily in climate research. Photographer: Michael A. McCoy/Bloomberg

Overview

  • Between 600 and 1,200 NOAA employees have been dismissed, affecting all six of the agency's line offices, including the National Weather Service and Office of Space Commerce.
  • Experts warn that the layoffs jeopardize the agency's ability to provide life-saving weather forecasts, disaster response, and support for industries reliant on NOAA data.
  • The National Weather Service has already suspended key operations, such as weather balloon launches in Alaska, due to staffing shortages.
  • Former NOAA leaders and lawmakers emphasize the potential for increased risks to aviation, agriculture, shipping, and public safety during severe weather events.
  • President Trump's executive order for large-scale federal workforce reductions has sparked criticism from former officials, who describe the cuts as indiscriminate and damaging to crucial services.