Overview

• Jacobs was approved as part of a bloc of 107 nominations that passed the Senate on a 51–47 roll call.
• An independent review by the National Academy of Public Administration concluded he violated NOAA ethics policies during the 2019 Sharpiegate episode.
• At his July hearing, he pledged to prioritize National Weather Service staffing, modernize watch and warning delivery, and strengthen post-storm assessments, including support for a disaster review board.
• He told senators he would not endorse inaccurate statements under political pressure and said climate change reflects both human activity and natural variability.
• His leadership begins as NOAA faces proposed budget cuts, staffing disruptions, and curtailed climate reporting under the current administration.