Recent changes in personnel at an agency have raised alarms among Democratic staff members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. They indicated to ABC News that any attempt to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) without congressional approval would be illegal. The committee is scrutinizing potential actions that could harm the agency’s mission, drawing parallels to a previous situation involving USAID.
Despite multiple requests, NOAA has not provided a comment to ABC News. Notably, several crucial NOAA websites, including the repository for global CO2 levels from Mauna Loa Observatory dating back to 1958, are currently inaccessible as of midday Wednesday. An official from NOAA’s David Skaggs Research Center cited scheduled maintenance and a temporary power outage as the reasons for the website disruptions.
NOAA plays a vital role in managing the National Weather Service and providing essential weather and climate data. Climate scientists heavily rely on NOAA’s information to study the impacts of climate change. The agency’s services, such as weather alerts and aviation forecasts, are crucial for public safety and national commerce.
Expressing concerns about the potential consequences of DOGE’s involvement, a former NOAA employee emphasized worries about a strategy akin to Elon Musk’s disruptive approach. There are fears that the integrity of NOAA’s indispensable climate and weather data could be jeopardized if not handled with caution.
The Project 2025 playbook was a strategy devised by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, prior to the recent election. This initiative was described by the group as an “agenda created by and for conservatives who will be prepared from Day One of the upcoming Administration to safeguard our nation.”
Recent revelations regarding Elon Musk’s DOGE agency have sparked inquiries into the extent and transparency of its operations. Throughout his campaign, President Trump distanced himself from the Project 2025 plan, emphasizing that he was not associated with its implementation. However, Russell Vought, his nominee for leading the Office of Management and Budget, played a significant role in crafting the plan.
Project 2025 proposed the dismantling of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the commercialization of its forecasting activities. The document argued that NOAA is a key promoter of the climate change alarmist movement and, therefore, detrimental to the future prosperity of the United States. The authors of the plan suggested that while NOAA does have some valuable functions, its current structure compromises its effectiveness and it should be restructured and reduced in size.
During his confirmation hearing, Howard Lutnick, Trump’s selection to head the Commerce Department, assured senators that he would not adhere to the recommendations outlined in Project 2025 nor pursue the breakup of NOAA. Lutnick is currently awaiting the final confirmation vote in the Senate.
This report was contributed to by ABC News’ Matthew Glasser, Julia Jacobo, Kelly Livingston, Will Steakin, Dan Peck, and Ginger Zee. The latest development indicates that DOGE now has access to NOAA’s IT systems and is undergoing a review of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program, according to sources.
