Weather and climate research have seen significant cuts by the Trump administration. Hundreds of employees at NOAA have been fired, and the agency’s funding has been slashed by hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Impact on NOAA Employees
NOAA’s Environmental Modeling Center, where Andy Hazelton worked as a physical scientist, has been severely affected by the cuts. Hazelton, who was recently fired, had been working on the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS) model, which has greatly improved the ability to forecast hurricanes. • HAFS has contributed to a marked improvement in forecasting, allowing scientists to predict when a storm may rapidly intensify into a major hurricane. • Human-driven climate change makes hurricanes more intense, leading to severe storm surge, rain, and wind. • NOAA scientists are now able to forecast when a storm may rapidly intensify, saving lives by giving residents more time to evacuate. The deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, Jamie Rhome, highlights the impact of the HAFS model in his work. “There have been several cases where forecasters have aggressively forecast and communicated that rapid intensification was not just a possibility but in all likelihood was going to occur,” Rhome said.
The Effects on Climate Research
The cuts to NOAA’s climate research programs may slow or end the progress made in developing weather and climate models. According to Andy Hazelton, if the funding is reduced, the improvements made so far will be lost. • Climate change is expected to lead to more intense hurricanes, with severe storm surge, rain, and wind. • Research shows that dangerous storms are becoming more common, putting lives at risk. • NOAA scientists are working to understand and predict these changes, but the funding cuts threaten to undermine their efforts.
The Withdrawal of Funding
The Trump administration has withdrawn funding for several climate research projects. The Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, announced the withdrawal of $4 million in grants to Princeton University for climate research, citing “exaggerated and implausible climate threats” and narratives that don’t “align with the priorities of this administration.”
Additionally, a leaked NOAA budget proposal outlines massive cuts to the agency’s scientific research programs. The proposal includes a plan to cancel contracts for the next generation of geostationary satellites.
Geostationary Satellites
Mary Glackin, a former NOAA undersecretary, emphasizes the importance of these satellites in understanding and forecasting the weather. “If we didn’t have (them) we’d have to wait until the polar satellites cross a couple of times a day,” Glackin said. • Geostationary satellites track weather in a region in real time, providing crucial information for weather forecasting. • Canceling these contracts would delay the development of weather forecasting models and put lives at risk.
The Impact on National Weather Service Field Offices
The cuts to NOAA’s climate research programs have also affected the National Weather Service field offices. With staffing shortages, field offices are now conducting fewer weather balloon launches. • Field offices are conducting fewer weather balloon launches, leading to reduced weather forecasting capabilities. • Automated translation of weather alerts into Spanish and other languages has also been suspended, leaving communities with limited access to critical weather information.
Reinstatement of Contracts
NOAA has recently backtracked and announced the reinstatement of the contract for automated translation of weather alerts. However, the impact of the cuts on the National Weather Service field offices remains a concern. • Reinstatement of contracts is a positive step, but the underlying issue of staffing shortages and reduced funding remains a concern.
Expert Opinions
Mary Glackin emphasizes the risk to lives posed by the cuts to NOAA’s climate research programs. “Lives are at risk. People will die from this,” Glackin said. Jamie Rhome highlights the importance of the HAFS model in predicting rapid intensification of hurricanes. • Lives are at risk due to the cuts to NOAA’s climate research programs and the National Weather Service field offices. • Progress in weather and climate modeling is being threatened, and the consequences will be severe if funding is reduced.
The Future of NOAA’s Weather and Climate Programs
The cuts to NOAA’s weather and climate programs have significant implications for the future of weather and climate research. The Trump administration’s decisions will likely have long-term consequences for the development of weather and climate models, and the impact on communities and lives will be felt for years to come. Copyright 2025 NPR
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