In Washington, former officials are sounding the alarm about potential risks stemming from a significant overhaul at a federal agency responsible for monitoring weather and oceans. The agency’s essential services, which impact people’s daily lives in subtle ways, are at risk of disruption due to widespread dismissals, according to those who previously led the organization.
The initial phase of layoffs commenced at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Thursday. As a critical government entity overseeing oceans, atmospheric conditions, and space, NOAA produces numerous essential forecasts and reports on a daily basis. Experts emphasize that these products play a crucial role in safeguarding lives and preserving economic stability.
With NOAA issuing a staggering 301 billion weather forecasts annually, reaching 96% of American households, the repercussions of the dismissals are expected to be far-reaching. Admiral Tim Gallaudet, who served as the acting chief of NOAA under the previous administration, expressed deep concerns about the impact on aviation safety, maritime navigation, and the general public’s well-being. He warned that lives are in jeopardy as a result of these changes.
Former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad echoed these sentiments, highlighting the potential consequences during the peak tornado season and agricultural activities. The disruptions could jeopardize public safety and hinder economic progress, Spinrad cautioned.
Recognizing the indispensability of NOAA’s services, private meteorologist Ryan Maue emphasized the agency’s vital role in issuing crucial warnings and forecasts that are instrumental in mitigating natural disasters. The dismissals, Maue noted, will impede an already strained agency that is tasked with a colossal responsibility.
Despite the concerns raised by experts and former officials, business magnate Elon Musk has defended the government’s workforce reductions under the Department of Government Efficiency as a necessary step towards reform. Musk justified the cuts as part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing governmental efficiency and fulfilling the public’s demand for change.
The potential repercussions of the dismissals are significant across various sectors. NOAA’s weather forecasts play a pivotal role in issuing alerts for deadly tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural calamities, guiding disaster response efforts and informing public safety protocols. The agency’s forecasts also inform critical decisions made by farmers, pilots, and other stakeholders, underscoring the indispensable nature of NOAA’s services.
In the context of firefighting operations and maritime activities, NOAA’s meteorologists play a crucial role in providing real-time updates and ensuring the safety of crews and vessels. Additionally, NOAA’s insights are instrumental in managing fisheries, protecting marine ecosystems, and facilitating safe navigation in water channels.
Former NOAA official Elbert “Joe” Friday emphasized the indispensable nature of NOAA’s services in scenarios such as firefighting operations and maritime navigation, where timely and accurate forecasts are essential to preventing disasters and ensuring safety.
The potential disruptions at NOAA could have cascading effects on public safety, economic stability, and various industries that rely on the agency’s expertise and guidance. As concerns mount over the implications
“But it needs NOAA to do a channel survey first,” he said. NOAA provides the science expertise in the response to major oil spills in coastal areas, including 2010’s BP Deepwater Horizon, Spinrad said. In space, NOAA forecasts help prevent satellites — including those belonging to Musk’s SpaceX — from colliding. The agency also watches for solar flares that can knock out parts of the electrical grid and hurt air traffic communications, officials said. NOAA owns or operates 18 satellites in orbit.
“Three years ago, SpaceX lost 40 satellites due to their ignorance of space weather implications and upper atmosphere density impacts. They immediately came to NOAA and said, ‘hey, help us out’,” Spinrad said, calling it “an object lesson there for Elon Musk himself” on the agency’s value. The National Weather Service is worth $102 billion a year to the U.S. economy, according to a 2022 study by the American Meteorological Society and economist Jeffrey Lazo. Before the current Trump administration, NOAA had a $6.7 billion budget, including nearly $1.4 billion for the National Weather Service, one of six sub-agencies.
“How many NOAA workers were dismissed?” NOAA officials would not reveal how many people were fired Thursday or are being let go, citing privacy. Current and past NOAA leaders and employees have given various estimates on job cuts, ranging from 580 to 1,200. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said the latest figure he has is 650 terminations.
Jane Lubchenco, another former NOAA chief, said the firings “are a national disaster and a colossal waste of money.” These are not high-paying jobs, but it’s work being done by people who love it, so cutting NOAA is like going after coins in the couch, Maue said.
“These are people who just live and breathe this work. These are the kind of people who come in on a day off because there’s a big weather event and they want to help out,” said Holy Cross University environmental sciences professor Keith Seitter, the former director of the American Meteorological Society. “People don’t go into meteorology because they want to get rich.” Seitter said there will “be things that fall through the cracks where they shouldn’t,” because of the dismissals, warning “those things lead to situations that could be deadly.”
Gallaudet, appointed by Trump, called the cuts “self-defeating,” saying “I could personally never work for Trump again. I did support some of the conservative policies. I still do, but he personally as a leader, he’s despicable.”
___Becky Bohrer contributed from Juneau, Alaska, and Brittany Peterson contributed from Denver.___
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