The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the agency responsible for weather and climate research, has experienced significant job cuts as the Trump administration continues its efforts to end bureaucracy in the federal government, Bloomberg reports.
At least 880 employees have been terminated, according to Senator Maria Cantwell, the ranking member on the Senate Committee overseeing the agency.
Sources familiar with the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, anticipate hundreds more layoffs at NOAA as early as Friday. These cuts will impact various aspects of NOAA’s operations, including the National Weather Service (NWS) and its vast observational system which provides critical data to commercial forecasters.
NWS spokesperson Susan Buchanan declined to confirm the specific number of layoffs, citing the agency’s “long-standing practice” of not discussing personnel matters.
“NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience,” Buchanan said in an email. “We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”
Prior to these cuts, NOAA employed some 12,000 individuals, including over 6,700 scientists and engineers, as well as a uniformed service that operates NOAA’s fleet of research ships and planes.
The cuts come amid calls from conservative critics to dismantle NOAA and distribute its responsibilities and assets among other federal departments. However, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who now oversees the agency, testified at his confirmation hearing in January that he believes NOAA should remain intact.
Neil Jacobs, the scientist nominated as NOAA’s next administrator, has not yet commented on the layoffs. Jacobs previously served as acting NOAA administrator during President Trump’s first term and was cited for misconduct related to the “Sharpiegate” hurricane forecasting controversy.
