The Trump Administration laid off hundreds of employees from the main U.S. agency responsible for overseeing weather prediction and climate research, raising concerns about the country's preparedness amid warnings of wildfires and tornadoes.
The cuts affect the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which includes the National Weather Service and a vast observation system that provides free data to commercial forecasters. According to Senator Maria Cantwell, at least 880 people were fired, and hundreds more are expected to be let go on Friday.
Wildfires are ongoing, coinciding with the forecast of critical weather conditions that could spark fires in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Additionally, a potentially severe round of thunderstorms, hail, and even tornadoes is forecasted for the lower Mississippi River valley next week, according to the U.S. Storm Prediction Center, which is part of the NWS.
Before the cuts, NOAA employed 12,000 people, including more than 6,700 scientists and engineers and a uniformed service operating the fleet of research boats and planes. Rick Spinrad, former NOAA director, noted that the agency was already working to fill vacancies after a wave of retirements in 2024. Spinrad expressed concern about the consequences of the move, warning that the agency's mission would be affected and there could be loss of life and property damage.
Despite the mass layoffs, NOAA is committed to providing information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure the environmental and economic resilience of the nation. Nearly 21 million people will have at least a 15 percent chance of experiencing extreme weather conditions on Tuesday, including cities like Dallas, St. Louis, and Nashville. In comparison, last year, severe storms claimed the lives of 51 people and caused damage of around $46.8 billion.
Conservative critics have called for NOAA to be divided and its responsibilities distributed among other federal departments; however, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has stated that NOAA should remain intact. Neil Jacobs, the scientist nominated as the next NOAA administrator, has not commented on the matter thus far. Jacobs, who served as interim NOAA administrator during President Donald Trump's first term, was involved in the controversy related to hurricane forecasting known as "Sharpiegate."
