NOAA Lays Off 800 Employees, More Job Cuts Expected

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has laid off around 800 employees, with additional job cuts expected by the end of the week. This move is part of a broader government restructuring plan linked to the conservative Project 2025 roadmap, which aims to reduce funding for the agency. The decision has sparked concerns about the future of weather forecasting, climate research, and disaster preparedness in the United States.

Massive Job Cuts at NOAA: What You Need to Know

800 Employees Fired, More Layoffs to Follow

According to sources close to NOAA, the agency terminated approximately 800 employees on Thursday, with further layoffs anticipated on Friday. If additional firings proceed, NOAA could lose over 1,000 employees within the week.

The affected employees span multiple departments, including weather forecasting, ocean research, climate monitoring, and disaster prediction. Many of those fired were probationary employees, meaning they had been in their positions for a year or less.

Key Divisions Affected by Layoffs

• Several critical NOAA departments were impacted by the mass firings, including:
• National Weather Service (NWS) – responsible for issuing weather alerts and warnings.
• Hurricane Research Division – focuses on improving hurricane tracking and forecasting.
• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center – monitors and issues tsunami alerts.
• Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory – studies environmental changes affecting the Great Lakes region.

Weather Model Development Division – enhances and refines U.S. weather prediction models.

Even positions tied to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for weather forecasting were eliminated. Zachary Labe, a NOAA modeler who specialized in AI-driven weather predictions, confirmed his termination on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his role focused on improving long-term forecasting accuracy.

Why These Layoffs Matter

Impact on Weather Forecasting and Disaster Preparedness

The job cuts come at a time when climate-related disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and extreme heat waves are increasing in frequency and severity. Critics argue that reducing NOAA’s workforce will weaken the agency’s ability to provide accurate and timely weather forecasts, which could endanger lives and property.

A NOAA researcher, Andrew Hazelton, who was also laid off, specialized in hurricane model improvements. His work was essential in predicting the behavior of hurricanes, particularly in high-risk areas like Florida and the Gulf Coast. Losing experts like Hazelton could directly impact NOAA’s ability to issue reliable storm warnings.

Union and Legal Action Underway

The National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO), the workers' union representing NOAA staff, is currently assessing the situation and reaching out to affected employees. Some fired workers have indicated that they will explore legal options to challenge their terminations.

One source inside NOAA suggested that the layoffs were carried out in a manner that left little documentation, making it difficult to track who was fired. Many employees only learned about their termination through word of mouth or social media posts from colleagues.

The Role of Project 2025 in NOAA’s Budget Cuts

What Is Project 2025?

The conservative Project 2025 roadmap is a policy plan advocating for deep budget cuts across federal agencies, including NOAA. The initiative prioritizes reducing government spending, even at the cost of scaling back programs related to climate research, weather prediction, and environmental monitoring.

While the U.S. government is cutting funds to agencies like NOAA, other global powers, including China, are heavily investing in climate and weather research. This shift has raised concerns among scientists and policymakers about the United States falling behind in critical environmental research and preparedness.

What’s Next for NOAA and Its Workforce?

With more layoffs expected in the coming days, NOAA may face severe staffing shortages that could compromise its ability to deliver timely and accurate weather forecasts. The agency's long-term ability to track hurricanes, tornadoes, and climate shifts may also be affected, raising concerns about the U.S.'s readiness to respond to natural disasters.

As the situation unfolds, affected employees and advocacy groups will likely continue pushing back against these layoffs. The NOAA firings could have lasting consequences on how the United States prepares for and responds to extreme weather events in the years to come.

The sudden NOAA layoffs signal a significant shift in the government's approach to climate and weather monitoring. While officials claim the job cuts are necessary for budgetary reasons, experts worry about the potential consequences for public safety and disaster preparedness. With more extreme weather events on the horizon, the decision to shrink NOAA's workforce could have far-reaching implications for communities across the United States.

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This information is sourced from CNN