- A powerful storm killed at least 40 people over the weekend. Experts warn staffing shortages within NOAA may threaten public safety and timely weather forecasts.
- The Department of Government Efficiency has pushed for NOAA to reduce its workforce by 10%.
- NOAA remains committed to its mission despite the staffing challenges.
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A deadly storm rattled the country this past weekend, leaving a growing death toll as budget cuts continue to affect the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Experts and scientists warn that public safety is at risk as NOAA staffing shortages leave critical roles unfilled.
Public concern over staffing cuts
As the storm ripped through communities, some Americans took to social media to express their concerns. One X user referred to the storm as a “clear example of why we need the National Weather Service.” Another called it “scary” that the agency is losing its funding.
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Straight Arrow News reached out to National Weather Service (NWS) field offices along the path of the cross-country storm to find out how staffing shortages are impacting their operations. However, NOAA said it cannot discuss internal personnel or management matters.
40 dead from weekend storms
The White House confirmed that at least 40 people have been killed as a result of the storms. Millions of Americans across the Midwest and South faced 80 mph winds, tornadoes and large hail as the storm made its way across the country.
In an ongoing effort to reduce federal spending, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has pushed for NOAA to cut more than 1,000 employees, representing roughly 10% of its staff.
NOAA monitors daily weather, severe forecasts and national emergencies, such as hurricanes, floods, tsunamis and tornadoes. The agency also keeps track of oceans, climate and marine life.
According to the Associated Press, probationary staff, many of whom helped provide local weather forecasts, were laid off due to budget cuts.
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Weather service adjustments due to staffing cuts
The National Weather Service rolled back its balloon launches in New York and Maine, with both forecast offices citing staffing shortages as the cause. The suspension of these launches will remain in place until staffing levels improve.
NOAA released a statement to Straight Arrow News, saying that it remains committed to its mission: “We will continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”
In response to the storm, the White House announced it would assist all impacted states. President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Arkansas to help with recovery efforts.
[Kalé Carey]
A DEADLY STORM RATTLED THE COUNTRY AS BUDGET CUTS LINGER ACROSS THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.
EXPERTS AND SCIENTISTS WARN PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT RISK AS HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES DEPART FROM THE AGENCY.. WITH SOME AMERICANS EVEN TAKING TO THE INTERNET TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE LAYOFFS.
IN A POST ON X ABOUT THIS PAST WEEKEND’S STORMS, A USER SAYS TONIGHT IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHY WE NEED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SOMEONE ELSE EXPRESSED FEARS, CALLING IT “SCARY” THAT THE AGENCY IS LOSING ITS FUNDING.
STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS CONTACTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FIELD OFFICES ALONG THE PATH OF THE CROSS-COUNTRY STORM TO INQUIRE IF STAFFING SHORTAGES ARE AFFECTING THEIR OPERATIONS.
WE WERE DIRECTED TO THE NOAA. IN A STATEMENT, THE FEDERAL AGENCY SAYS THEY CAN’T DISCUSS INTERNAL PERSONNEL OR MANAGEMENT MATTERS.
ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, THIS WEEKEND’S WEATHER BROUGHT THE DEATH TOLL TO AT LEAST 40 PEOPLE.
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE SOUTH BRACED FOR 80 MPH WINDS, AS WELL AS TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL.
IN ITS EFFORT TO REDUCE FEDERAL SPENDING, THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY WANTS THE NOAA TO CUT MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND EMPLOYEES FROM THE NOAA’S WORKFORCE… OR ABOUT TEN PERCENT.
THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY TRACKS DAILY WEATHER AND SEVERE FORECASTS, WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FALLING UNDER ITS OVERSIGHT.
OFFICIALS MONITOR HURRICANES, FLOODS, TSUNAMIS AND TORNADOES, WHILE NOAA ALSO WATCHES OCEANS, CLIMATE AND MARINE LIFE.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED THAT PROBATIONARY STAFF WERE LAID OFF, MANY OF WHOM ASSISTED WITH PROVIDING FORECASTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROLLED BACK BALLOON LAUNCHES IN NEW YORK AND MAINE, WITH BOTH FORECAST OFFICES CITING STAFFING SHORTAGES AS THE CAUSE. ONCE STAFFING LEVELS ALLOW, THE SUSPENSION WILL BE LIFTED.
THE NOAA SAYS THEY ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING TIMELY INFORMATION, RESEARCH AND RESOURCES AND PLAN TO “continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”
THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THEY’RE ASSISTING ALL STATES IMPACTED BY THE STORM. PRESIDENT TRUMP SENT THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ARKANSAS TO AID IN RECOVERY EFFORTS.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KALÉ CAREY.
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