Kentucky NWS Faced Staff Cuts Before Deadly Tornado Hit: Reports

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Jackson, Kentucky, lacked a permanent overnight forecaster on Friday amid severe storms threatening the eastern U.S., according to reports.

Why It Matters

The White House and Elon Musk-spearheaded Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been seeking to reduce government spending, leading to layoffs across numerous government agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the parent agency of the NWS.

What To Know

This gap resulted from staffing cuts tied to DOGE, according to a New York Times report, citing Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the union that represents NWS workers.

Due to the risk of flooding, hail, and tornadoes, the NWS had to seek help from other offices. A spokesperson said that nearby offices would support Jackson through the weekend, it reported.

According to USA Today, Fahy stated that on May 16, Jackson workers were called in to cover the overnight shift, working with emergency management officials and issuing warnings throughout the night.

“The deaths were not attributable to the staffing cuts,” he said, according to the outlet. “Everybody was there last night. We had a full team.”

Newsweek was unable to independently verify these reports and contacted the NWS for comment outside of standard working hours on Sunday.

At least 27 people were killed over the weekend as a wave of powerful tornadoes swept through parts of Kentucky, Missouri, and Virginia, according to The Associated Press.

Kentucky was hardest hit, with 18 fatalities, including nine in Laurel County where a tornado struck southeastern parts of the state, overturning a car on I-75 and destroying structures. An emergency shelter was set up and rescuers worked overnight to search for survivors.

In Missouri, at least seven deaths were reported, including five in St. Louis. A church collapse there killed one person, while another two were rescued from the building. Two more people died in Scott County, where several homes were flattened.

Northern Virginia reported two deaths, and thousands lost power in Wisconsin as the storms moved across the region.

What People Are Saying

A NOAA spokesperson previously told Newsweek: “Several local NWS offices are temporarily operating below around-the-clock staffing. NWS is mitigating impacts by temporarily reassigning meteorologists and directing nearby offices to provide additional support.

“NWS is prepared to meet the rigorous demands of hurricane season and will continue to prioritize the safety and security of the American people.”

Tom Fahy, legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, previously said in an email, per The Washington Post:”For most of the last half century NWS has been a 24/7 operation—not anymore thanks to Elon Musk.”

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on Saturday: “Kentucky, we’re starting today with the tough news that we lost at least 14 of our people to last night’s storms, but sadly, this number is expected to grow as we receive more information. Please pray for all of our affected families.”