Overview

• The Trump administration's FY2026 draft budget proposes eliminating NOAA's research arm and closing all weather and climate labs.
• The budget outlines a 75% reduction in funding for NOAA's research office, halting programs like regional climate data and sea grants.
• Key NOAA offices, including the National Ocean Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, face significant budget cuts, with some functions transferred to the Interior Department.
• The draft budget, already distributed to NOAA as guidance, signals that cuts could begin this year, pending congressional approval.
• Experts warn the cuts could devastate weather and climate research, impair disaster forecasting, and disrupt industries like agriculture reliant on free, accurate data.