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Heritage Foundation proposal to dissolve NOAA raises wildfire and agricultural risks, experts say
A conservative proposal to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could disrupt wildfire responses, agriculture and water management in the U.S., leaving communities vulnerable to climate threats, according to industry experts.
Jake Bolster reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 calls for dismantling NOAA, which could disrupt agriculture, wildfire management and water resources critical to the arid West.
- NOAA’s weather data supports wildfire detection, drought tracking and other essential planning for national security, healthcare and utilities.
- Experts warn that privatizing NOAA’s services would raise costs for farmers and likely reduce weather and climate data access for rural areas.
Key quote:
“This is a proposal that would lead to people dying.”
— Aaron Weiss, deputy director, Center for Western Priorities
Why this matters:
NOAA’s data underpins essential services in the West, from managing scarce water resources to wildfire response. Privatizing this data could make farming and wildfire safety measures costlier and less accessible, raising risks for public health and food supply.
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