Fired NOAA Workers Say Cuts Could Hinder Weather Forecasts and Programs to Keep People Safe

A Ph.D. scientist who issues tsunami alerts. A hurricane-hunting flight director. A researcher studying which communities will get flooded when a storm strikes.

A Ph.D. scientist, a hurricane-hunting flight director, and a researcher studying which communities will get flooded when a storm strikes. They were among the more than 600 workers the Trump administration cut last week when it eliminated about 5% of the workforce at the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Fired Scientist Says Cuts Will Harm Weather Forecasting and Public Safety

Kayla Besong, a physical scientist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, was one of those who lost her job. “I was considered an essential employee, part of a 24/7 safety watch,” she said. “Until Thursday, I was part of a team of 12 that programmed the systems that determine whether parts of the U.S. coastline are at risk and issued alerts accordingly. Two people were required to be working at all times,” she said.

The mass firing – of educated, specialized workers who viewed themselves as the next generation of scientists protecting life and property – could stretch NOAA’s workforce thin and hinder work on programs designed for public safety, former agency employees and leaders said.

Climate Change and the Need for Accurate Forecasts

Climatologists say that climate change is making weather disasters more common. Last year, NOAA counted 27 billion-dollar disasters, which resulted in the deaths of 568 people in the United States. It was the second-highest number since 1980, when NOAA began keeping such records, even accounting for inflation.

Public Criticism and Harassment of Meteorologists

Meteorologists and forecasters say they’ve faced public vitriol and harassment despite increasingly accurate predictions. Some blame the politicization of climate change and the proliferation of conspiracy theories.

Fired Workers Warn of Potential Consequences

A White House official said “an extensive process” was conducted before the NOAA layoffs to ensure “mission critical functions” weren’t compromised. The cuts were part of the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal workers, which have spurred protests and legal challenges. Some researchers have warned that cuts to health and science agencies, in particular, could walk back or stall years of progress.

NOAA Spokesperson Refuses to Comment

A NOAA spokesperson said the agency wouldn’t comment on the layoffs. “We are not discussing internal personnel and management matters. NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public,” Susan Buchanan, a National Weather Service public affairs officer, said in a statement Thursday.

Former Agency Officials Criticize the Cuts

Former agency officials railed against the cuts, saying they threaten public safety during weather crises. “Every office in NOAA was hit by these indiscriminate, misguided, ill-informed terminations,” said Rick Spinrad, the administrator of NOAA under President Joe Biden. “We’re coming into tornado season; hurricane season isn’t too far behind. We’re going to have, still, some winter storms. We’re going to have floods, droughts.”

Democrat Senators Condemn the Cuts

Democrats in Congress, too, spoke out against the moves at a news conference Friday and at a rally Monday at NOAA headquarters. “Without the warnings of extreme weather events, hurricanes, tsunamis, other things, people will die and others will suffer greatly, including huge property loss. And that’s why this is such an assault on our public safety,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said at the news conference.

Researchers Warn of Impacts on Public Safety

Researchers warn that the cuts could hinder the development of programs designed to keep people safe. “When there’s any large displacement in the Earth’s crust or water, we get notified and have to determine if there’s an earthquake large enough to create a tsunami or if a tsunami has been generated by other means,” Besong said. “I’ve been developing these skills for over 10 years. I’m an excellent programmer. Their systems are very niche, and they require people who know how to program.”

Conclusion

The mass firing of NOAA workers could have severe consequences for the agency’s ability to provide accurate weather forecasts and warnings, and for public safety. The cuts could also hinder the development of programs designed to keep people safe, such as those related to climate change and natural disasters. The impacts will be felt for years to come, and it’s essential to understand the potential consequences of these cuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the potential consequences of the cuts to NOAA workers?

A: The cuts could hinder the agency’s ability to provide accurate weather forecasts and warnings, and could impact public safety. The development of programs designed to keep people safe, such as those related to climate change and natural disasters, could also be impacted.

Q: Why were the cuts made?

A: The cuts were made as part of the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal workers, which have sparked protests and legal challenges.

Q: How will the cuts affect the development of programs designed to keep people safe?

A: The cuts could hinder the development of these programs, including those related to climate change and natural disasters.

Q: What is the potential impact on public safety?

A: The cuts could have severe consequences for public safety, including increased risk of injury or loss of life due to inaccurate weather forecasts and warnings.

Q: What can be done to mitigate the impacts of the cuts?

A: It is essential to understand the potential consequences of these cuts and to work to mitigate their impacts. This could include providing additional funding for NOAA and other agencies, and working to ensure that the agency is able to continue providing accurate weather forecasts and warnings.