Hundreds of NOAA Scientists and Forecasters Fired
Hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees on probationary status were fired on Thursday, according to lawmakers and weather experts. This move is part of a larger effort to shrink the federal workforce, which President Donald Trump has called "bloated and sloppy."
Cuts Affecting Local Forecasts and Hazard Warnings
The layoffs included meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts in National Weather Service (NWS) offices across the country. Federal workers who were not let go reported that the afternoon layoffs were part of two rounds, with one round affecting 500 employees and another affecting 800 employees. This represents about 10% of NOAA’s workforce.
Probationary Employees First to Be Let Go
The first round of cuts was focused on probationary employees, said Craig McLean, a former NOAA chief scientist. There are approximately 375 probationary employees in the National Weather Service, where day-to-day forecasting and hazard warning is done. Thousands of probationary employees across the government have already been fired.
Reactions from Lawmakers and Experts
Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) released a statement condemning the layoffs, saying, "Today, hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including weather forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS), were given termination notices for no good reason. This is unconscionable." She added, "These are dedicated, hardworking Americans whose efforts help save lives and property from the devastating impacts of natural disasters across the country. This action will only endanger American lives going forward."
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), the ranking minority member in the House Natural Resources Committee, also commented on the layoffs, saying, "Hundreds of scientists and experts at NOAA were let go."
Expert Opinion on the Job Cuts
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, expressed concerns about the job cuts on social media, stating, "The job cuts are spectacularly short-sighted, and ultimately will deal a major self-inflicted wound to the public safety of Americans and the resiliency of the American economy to weather and climate-related disasters." On his YouTube channel, Swain emphasized, "These people are the ones responsible for creating your day-to-day weather forecast. This is very clearly not what you want to do – kneecap a well-functioning agency."
Conclusion
The recent layoffs at NOAA have raised concerns about the potential impact on the nation’s weather forecasting and emergency preparedness. The cuts have also sparked debate about the role of government in providing essential services, such as weather forecasting and scientific research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many NOAA employees were let go?
A: According to reports, approximately 1,300 NOAA employees were let go, which is about 10% of the agency’s workforce.
Q: What is the purpose of the layoffs?
A: The layoffs are part of a larger effort to shrink the federal workforce, which President Donald Trump has called "bloated and sloppy."
Q: How will the layoffs affect local weather forecasts and hazard warnings?
A: The layoffs will likely impact the ability of local weather service offices to provide accurate and timely forecasts, potentially putting lives and property at risk.
Q: What do experts think about the job cuts?
A: Many experts, including climate scientist Daniel Swain, believe that the job cuts will have negative consequences for the nation’s weather forecasting and emergency preparedness.
