WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has put forth the nomination of Neil Jacobs to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This appointment comes as Jacobs was acting chief of NOAA in 2019 during the controversial incident known as “Sharpiegate,” where Trump modified a hurricane tracking map.
Following a tweet from Trump that warned of Hurricane Dorian affecting Alabama, local meteorologists contradicted this warning, causing NOAA under Jacobs’ leadership to publicly reprimand them. This move drew scrutiny, leading to a report by the Department of Commerce inspector general that criticized Jacobs alongside other officials for their role in the event.
NOAA has several important divisions including the National Weather Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The agency was also a target in Project 2025, a conservative plan aimed at restructuring various federal agencies during a potential second term for Trump, which specifically mentioned plans to “break up NOAA” for its perceived role in promoting climate change fears.
Jacobs has a solid scientific background, serving at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research where he has worked on integrating multiple weather and climate forecasting systems. He previously held the position of chief atmospheric scientist at Panasonic Avionics Corporation and is recognized as a fellow at the American Meteorological Society.
During Hurricane Dorian’s approach in 2019, NOAA forecasters indicated that Alabama was unlikely to be affected, yet President Trump stated on Twitter that Alabama would be “hit (much) harder than anticipated.” This led to the Birmingham weather office publicly responding to anxious residents, confirming there would be no impact from the storm. Ultimately, Dorian never made landfall in Alabama, passing off the coast of North Carolina instead.
After Dorian had passed, Trump showcased a modified storm map that had been altered with a black marker to suggest Alabama was in the storm’s projected path. This moment sparked significant political debate and communication chaos, accompanied by late-night discussions and emotional reactions from officials, including Jacobs, who reported high anxiety levels over the situation.
A statement from Jacobs’ agency, released after the controversy, suggested that the Birmingham forecasters had provided messages “inconsistent with probabilities from the best forecast products available at the time.” Later, during a meteorology convention in Alabama, Jacobs emotionally expressed gratitude to forecasters who faced criticism, assuring them that their jobs were safe.
The inspector general’s review heavily criticized NOAA and Commerce Department leaders for their handling of the situation, suggesting that they improperly reprimanded staff who were fulfilling their professional responsibilities during a critical public safety alert. An external report in 2020 also pointed fingers at Jacobs over his response to the incident, which some argued lacked sufficient accountability.
Despite the earlier backlash, Jacobs has garnered recent support, as several meteorology professionals voiced their enthusiasm for his potential return to lead NOAA, particularly when considered against other candidates. “I believe the Neil Jacobs appointment is a strong choice,” stated Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University.
Jacobs participated in discussions at the American Meteorological Society meeting, sharing insights on a unified weather forecasting system project and reflecting on the bipartisan support he has seen in Congress for weather forecasting advancements. He emphasized how essential weather forecasting is for national safety and the positive response he’s received from legislators, contrary to how these matters can appear in typical media coverage.
