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14h ago

NOAA Places Two Sharpiegate Investigators on Administrative Leave Ahead of Vote

The move casts doubt on NOAA’s capacity to enforce its scientific integrity policies under political pressure.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) references a map held by acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan while talking to reporters following a briefing from officials about Hurricane Dorian in the Oval Office at the White House September 04, 2019 in Washington, DC. The map was a forecast from August 29 and appears to have been altered by a black marker to extend the hurricane's range to include Alabama. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump talks with reporters after receiving a briefing on Hurricane Dorian in the Oval Office on Sept. 4, 2019.
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Overview

  • Senior NOAA officials Steve Volz and Jeff Dillen were placed on administrative leave on July 25.
  • The two led the 2019 inquiry that found then-acting administrator Neil Jacobs violated policy by endorsing President Trump’s Sharpie-altered Hurricane Dorian forecast.
  • Their leave notices cite an investigation into “recent conduct” without detailing specific allegations.
  • The suspensions occur less than a week before Jacobs’s Senate Commerce Committee vote on his nomination as NOAA administrator.
  • Observers warn that the timing raises questions about political interference and could further undermine NOAA’s morale as budget cuts and staffing shortages persist.