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yesterday

White House Proposes Deep NOAA Budget Cuts, Threatening Weather Forecasting and Public Safety

The proposed 2026 budget slashes NOAA funding by nearly 30%, jeopardizing critical weather research, satellite operations, and disaster warnings as staffing shortages already strain the National Weather Service.

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Overview

  • The White House's 2026 budget proposal includes a nearly 30% reduction in NOAA funding, targeting weather research, satellite programs, and ocean data collection.
  • Cuts to NOAA would have cascading effects on the National Weather Service, which has already lost over 10% of its workforce this year due to departures and firings.
  • Staffing shortages at NWS forecast offices may lead to part-time operations, raising concerns about the reliability of tornado, hurricane, and flood warnings.
  • NOAA's satellites and ocean buoys provide essential data for storm tracking, aviation, agriculture, and fisheries, with a proven 6:1 economic return on investment.
  • Former NWS directors warn that reduced resources could lead to degraded forecasting capabilities, risking lives and disrupting critical sectors reliant on accurate weather information.