In a recent move by the Trump administration, over 1,000 jobs are being cut at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), marking another wave of staff reductions. According to insiders, plans were initiated on Tuesday to reduce 10% of NOAA’s workforce across various departments. Employees have been informed, and managers are tasked with identifying positions for layoffs, which will be submitted to the Department of Commerce after review.
Three former high-ranking officials with NOAA, who still maintain communication with their contacts within the agency, confirmed that 1,029 positions — around 10% of the current workforce of 10,290 — are set to be eliminated. The officials discussed these figures following conversations with existing staff and verification from an active agency worker describing the cutbacks as relayed by management.
NOAA, widely known for its comprehensive weather forecasting, undertakes vital responsibilities including monitoring extreme weather events, managing national fisheries, maintaining marine sanctuaries, and providing navigation aid to maritime vessels. Additionally, the organization contributes to climate and oceanic research while issuing warnings about potential natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. Their expertise extends to alerts on space weather that could impact electrical infrastructures and disaster response coordination.
This restructuring follows previous budget cuts and staff reductions under the same administration, where almost one-fourth of NOAA’s positions have already been phased out since President Trump’s inauguration. Rick Spinrad, NOAA’s former Administrator, expressed deep concerns regarding these actions, describing them as detrimental to the agency’s operational capacity.
The Trump administration has not specified directives for executing these layoffs, leading to increased anxiety internally. Monica Allen, a spokesperson for NOAA, stated that discussions on personnel matters remain confidential but assured the continuation of critical weather updates in alignment with their public safety mission.
While facing staffing challenges, NOAA has discontinued the release of essential weather balloons at two stations in Albany, New York, and Gray, Maine. This decision stems from insufficient staffing resources, concurrent with the looming threat of severe weather conditions forecasted to affect central and southern U.S. later this week with risks of tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds.
Former NOAA chief scientist Craig McLean emphasized the potential decline in forecast reliability and its detrimental impact on fishing industries. He also highlighted the cuts in research funding, which could impair the nation’s ability to advance weather prediction capabilities and monitor environmental changes effectively.
As the country faces these challenges, McLean lamented the silent erosion of America’s status as a technological leader, comparing it to the nation’s historical achievements while underscoring the growing deficiency in modern meteorological advancements.
