Overview
- The Trump administration’s draft budget for fiscal year 2026 proposes eliminating NOAA’s research arm and shutting down all weather and climate labs, pending Congressional approval.
- The budget includes a 27% overall cut to NOAA’s funding and a 75% reduction in funding for its research office, potentially crippling climate and weather research capabilities.
- Key functions of the National Marine Fisheries Service would be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, prioritizing energy development over conservation efforts.
- Critics warn that the cuts could jeopardize disaster preparedness, hinder accurate weather forecasting, and negatively affect industries like agriculture and fisheries reliant on NOAA data.
- The proposal is part of a broader federal downsizing effort under Project 2025, which has already led to significant layoffs and raised concerns over the administration’s climate skepticism.