Hundreds of experts and scientists have been dismissed from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), one of the leading U.S. agencies responsible for weather forecasting, climate research, marine conservation, and other critical tasks, according to a Democratic lawmaker on Thursday.
These layoffs are part of the sweeping cuts being implemented by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has been dramatically reducing the federal workforce—a move that critics argue may be overstepping legal boundaries.
“Hundreds of scientists and experts at NOAA just received the news every federal worker has been dreading,” Congressman Jared Huffman, D-Calif., wrote in a statement.
“Musk’s sham mission is bringing vital programs to a screeching halt. People nationwide depend on NOAA for free, accurate forecasts, severe weather alerts, and emergency information,” Huffman, who serves as the second most senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee, added.
“Purging the government of scientists, experts, and career civil servants and slashing fundamental programs will cost lives.”
A NOAA representative declined to comment on the personnel changes within the agency.
“We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission,” said Theo Stein, the spokesperson, in a statement to AFP.
Environmental advocates voiced strong concerns about the decision.
In a controversial move, President Trump has reappointed meteorologist Neil Jacobs to lead NOAA, despite his involvement in the “Sharpiegate” scandal during Trump’s first term.
Jacobs, who headed the agency from 2018 to 2021, was officially censured after yielding to political pressure and misleading the public regarding a hurricane forecast.
The scandal unfolded in 2019 when Trump falsely stated that Hurricane Dorian would impact Alabama. After the National Weather Service corrected him, Trump doubled down by presenting a doctored forecast map altered with a Sharpie. NOAA later issued an unsigned statement supporting Trump, which led to public outrage. Investigations condemned Jacobs for his role in endorsing the altered map.
{Matzav.com}