NOAA Job Cuts Threaten Weather Forecasts as Storms Loom Nationwide

Over 800 NOAA workers lost their jobs in February with 1000 more cuts looming under Trump’s efficiency drive. Led by the Department of Government Efficiency these layoffs hit the agency’s weather modeling core. Scientists warn the U.S. could face deadly gaps in storm tracking as a result.

The National Weather Service a NOAA arm saw its forecasting team gutted in the first wave. Hurricane and tornado prediction units bore the brunt of the reductions. Some stations have halted weather balloon launches vital for real-time data.

DOGE headed by Elon Musk aims to slash federal spending across multiple agencies. NOAA’s budget took an 18 percent hit this year per official figures. Critics call it a reckless move that prioritizes cost over public safety.

Peak tornado season is underway with hurricanes set to ramp up by June. Experts say fewer staff means slower updates and less precise warnings. Lives and property hang in the balance if major storms strike unprepared regions.

Weather scientists have sounded the alarm since the cuts began. One veteran forecaster said the system’s already stretched beyond capacity. Rural areas reliant on NOAA’s alerts face the greatest risk of being left in the dark.

The administration defends the layoffs as streamlining overdue bureaucracy. They point to private weather firms as potential gap-fillers. Skeptics argue no substitute matches NOAA’s reach or reliability for emergency planning.

Lawmakers are pushing to reverse the cuts before summer storms intensify. Democrats frame it as a moral failure to protect vulnerable communities. Republicans largely back DOGE’s vision despite growing unease from some constituents.

With 4200 employees left NOAA struggles to maintain its mission amid the turmoil. A severe weather outbreak this month will test the pared-down network. Americans brace for what could be a turbulent season ahead.