The Trump administration made significant cuts to the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, eliminating more than 600 specialized workers, including scientists issuing tsunami alerts, hurricane-hunting flight directors, and researchers studying storm flooding. These cuts could potentially hinder public safety programs and responses to weather disasters, which are becoming more common due to climate change. Despite increasingly accurate predictions, meteorologists and forecasters face public vitriol and harassment, fueled by climate change politicization and conspiracy theories. Former agency employees and leaders raised concerns about the impact of these cuts on public safety during weather crises. The impacted workers, such as physical scientist Kayla Besong at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, were dedicated to using their specialized skills to protect and warn against hazards. The mass layoffs have also affected the development of modeling tools that aid in forecasting extreme weather events. The reduction in staff has led to the suspension of certain services, such as weather balloon releases and social media communications, which are crucial for disseminating weather information to the public. Former agency officials and Democrats in Congress have criticized the Trump administration’s decision, warning of the potential dangers and threats to public safety resulting from the workforce reductions at NOAA and the National Weather Service.
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