President Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal workforce have triggered firings, operational cuts, and email security problems at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In short:
- NOAA, which houses the National Weather Service, has seen over 1,000 staff fired or resign, with another 1,000 job cuts expected.
- Weather balloon launches have been reduced in six U.S. locations, limiting critical data used to predict storms and extreme weather.
- A new, unsecured email server created a flood of spam and lewd messages to staff, reflecting growing disorder within the agency.
Key quote:
“These people at Doge think they are the best at what they do but they can’t even protect an email list.”
— NOAA staff member (unnamed), currently on administrative leave
Why this matters:
NOAA operates behind the scenes but forms the backbone of public weather services, offering real-time data to farmers, fishers, pilots, emergency managers, and everyday citizens. Its satellites and ocean buoys, radar systems and climate models all contribute to what amounts to the nation’s early warning system. But as the Trump administration reorients federal priorities and eyes potential budget cuts across science agencies, NOAA’s stability is again in question. Any disruption — whether through funding reductions, staffing shortfalls, or political interference — could have real consequences, not only in terms of storm preparedness but also in the quality of long-term environmental data. Climate researchers warn that even small gaps in recordkeeping today could leave us less prepared for tomorrow’s extremes.
Related: Trump blocks funding for science agencies, risking AI and weather research
