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Trump Administration Cuts to NOAA Disrupt Global Weather and Climate Research

Severe staff reductions and funding freezes at NOAA are undermining critical meteorological operations and international collaborations, with significant impacts on Australia's forecasting capabilities.

Senior Hurricane Specialist Dan Brown studies information on Tropical Storms Irene and Jose Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011 at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. That National Hurricane Center is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
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Overview

  • NOAA has terminated 880 employees as of February 2025, with plans to cut an additional 1,000, severely affecting its operational capacity.
  • Australia's Bureau of Meteorology heavily relies on NOAA's data, including satellite and ocean observations, for weather forecasting and climate modeling.
  • Key NOAA programs, such as weather balloon launches and the Argo ocean monitoring array, are experiencing disruptions, raising concerns about gaps in global data collection.
  • The Australian Academy of Science and AMOS have issued urgent calls for government action to address the risks posed by these cuts to Australia's strategic research and disaster preparedness.
  • International scientific collaborations are under strain, with U.S. funding freezes and restrictive questionnaires targeting Australian scientists, raising alarms about the politicization of research.