NOAA Job Cuts Raise Concerns Over Weather Forecasting and Public Safety

NORMAN, Okla. — Meteorologists and climate scientists are sounding alarms over recent significant cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), warning that the slashes may impede the nation’s ability to forecast and respond effectively to severe weather events, endangering lives.

On February 27, hundreds of NOAA employees, including esteemed meteorologists and researchers, were laid off as part of a broader job elimination strategy implemented by Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency. Current and former employees revealed to PBS News that NOAA faces a mandate to reduce its workforce by approximately 10 percent, equating to about 1,029 positions. This would dramatically impact NOAA’s 13,000-person staff, responsible for both weather forecasting and climate trend monitoring across the United States.

The agency operates critical components such as the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center, employing a sophisticated network of radar systems, satellites, and weather balloons aimed at predicting extreme weather. Additionally, NOAA’s research extends to marine commerce, fisheries management, and the protection of endangered marine ecosystems.

Tom Di Liberto, a former climate scientist and public affairs specialist for NOAA, noted that the cuts are causing a detrimental impact on already understaffed offices. “At some point, those offices will have to determine what are the most important things to be done, and determine what other things will have to go by the wayside during severe weather events,” Di Liberto stated. “That’s not going to be good for now or the future of forecasting.”

Some forecast operations have already experienced interruptions due to these employment reductions. Such staff shortages have led to the suspension of critical tracking tools, which scientists say are essential for real-time storm monitoring and predictive modeling. Following the initial layoffs, NOAA announced it would halt its monthly U.S. and global climate updates.

In late February, community members gathered outside the National Weather Center in Norman, protesting against the cuts. Many of the hundreds of attendees held up handwritten signs and called for answers regarding the targeting of agencies crucial for weather forecasting and alerts. Di Liberto emphasized the seriousness of the cuts, stating, “It’s terrifying because these organizations keep us safe.”

Amid the turmoil, a former NOAA employee from the National Severe Storm Laboratory in Norman expressed their concern for the agency’s future. This individual, who was involved in research aimed at improving weather prediction to save lives, requested anonymity due to fears of retribution while searching for a new job. “I wanted to help bring new innovations and expertise to help my community. This is what I had been working toward,” they said, lamenting the loss of their position.

Jeff Frame, an instructor of climate and atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois, underscored the significance of NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS) amid increasingly severe weather patterns fueled by climate change. The current staffing cuts could wear thin the severe weather alert teams, compromising their ability to effectively monitor vast areas for extended hours. With hurricane season approaching, Frame raised concerns regarding the potential underestimation of hurricane intensity, given the loss of experienced employees tasked with such duties.

“For decades we’ve seen a slow but steady improvement in tracking forecasts,” he said. “These people were developing better tools to better forecast those specific situations. I don’t see how that’s an unnecessary position.”

The cuts appear to be part of a broader conservative agenda aimed at reducing the size of the federal government, as outlined in Project 2025, which includes proposals to downsize and privatize portions of NOAA. Di Liberto expressed frustration that the trend might undermine climate change research and essential forecasting tools. “It’s frustrating because it’s a completely self-inflicted sort of thing,” he remarked, “where you’re making these products worse and you’re making people less safe.”

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., addressed constituent concerns regarding staffing reductions at NOAA, stating he does not support the cuts due to the vital services provided by the NWS and NOAA. He emphasized the importance of the National Weather Center in Norman and shared apprehensions about potential repercussions stemming from proposed staffing changes.

As the scientific community rallies in concern over the cuts to NOAA, the uncertainty they instigate could resonate for years. Future meteorologists may have to weigh their prospects between public service roles at NOAA and potentially more stable positions in the private sector. A former NOAA scientist remarked, “We don’t do this work to make a lot of money. We do it to keep our community safe, and to see that undervalued is heartbreaking.”