WASHINGTON — In a significant shake-up on Thursday, hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — primarily those on a probationary period — were dismissed, according to reports from lawmakers and meteorology experts. Among the affected were meteorologists responsible for producing essential local forecasts from National Weather Service offices nationwide.
Sources disclose that these layoffs proceeded in two waves, totaling roughly 1,300 employees, which comprises about 10% of NOAA’s overall workforce. Craig McLean, former chief scientist at NOAA, revealed that he gained this information from a reliable insider. According to McLean, the initial round targeted probationary employees, including about 375 staff members at the National Weather Service, critical for daily forecasting and issuing hazard warnings.
The layoffs align with initiatives led by billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. This strategy aims to reduce the federal workforce, following sentiments from former President Donald Trump, who criticized it as excessive and poorly managed. This action is part of a broader governmental trend that has already resulted in the dismissal of thousands of probationary employees across various sectors.
Representative Grace Meng of New York voiced strong opposition, releasing a statement condemning the layoffs: “Today, hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including weather forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS), were given termination notices for no good reason. This is unconscionable.” Meng emphasized the vital role these employees play in safeguarding lives and property against natural disasters and expressed concern that their removal could risk American safety moving forward.
Similarly, Representative Jared Huffman from California, a key figure in the House Natural Resources Committee, confirmed the termination of “hundreds of scientists and experts at NOAA.” Climate scientist Daniel Swain from the University of California, Los Angeles, also criticized the layoffs on social media, describing the decision as “spectacularly short-sighted.” Swain warned of the negative impact on both public safety and economic resilience in the face of weather and climate-related disasters.
