Trump Administration Cuts NOAA Workforce, Raising Concerns Over Climate Research and Public Safety

The Department of Government Efficiency's actions could lead to significant disruptions in weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and marine conservation.

Over 800 NOAA employees, including meteorologists and climate scientists, were terminated, with an additional 1,000 job cuts potentially forthcoming.
The layoffs are part of a broader initiative by the Department of Government Efficiency to reduce the federal workforce, which critics argue undermines critical public safety functions.
NOAA's National Weather Service, responsible for severe weather warnings, has already lost key staff, potentially delaying disaster response and endangering lives.
The firings align with Project 2025, a conservative policy framework targeting NOAA for its role in climate change research and proposing privatization of weather services.
Experts warn that the cuts will hinder global climate monitoring, disrupt fisheries management, and jeopardize NOAA's critical role in supporting the U.S. economy.