The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) faced a fresh wave of criticism regarding its cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service after severe storms tore through the United States over the weekend.
Why It Matters
Americans have criticized DOGE’s cuts to federal agencies, including the NOAA. Fresh criticism rose after storms over the weekend, with some claiming that the cuts impacted the NWS’ ability to broadcast lifesaving weather information.
What To Know
Numerous federal agencies, including the NOAA, have announced thousands of job losses.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Staff Cuts: What We Know
On March 12, the NOAA announced it was cutting another roughly 1,000 employees as part of the Trump administration’s reductions after initial staff cuts. DOGE reportedly planned to cancel leases for two NOAA facilities.
A White House source said the leases had not been formally canceled but were under evaluation, NewsNation reported. NOAA allegedly rehired hurricane hunters that were previously laid off, the report said.
Tornadoes, Storm Death Toll Thus Far
President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard in Arkansas on Sunday. The move follows a deadly storm system over the weekend that left at least 39 people dead across multiple states, according to authorities.
Tornadoes, hail, wildfires, and dust storms caused destruction from Missouri to Alabama. The severe weather has displaced hundreds of families and left widespread power outages.
Have DOGE’s NOAA Cuts Impacted Forecasts?
An NWS spokesperson declined to comment on “internal personnel and management matters” but told Newsweek that NOAA “remains dedicated to its mission of providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended DOGE’s cuts in an interview with CNN earlier this month.
“What you’re going to see is a very careful attention paid to ensuring that the essential programs of the federal government, the things that make sense to American taxpayers and that follow common sense, will be sustained and supported and funded,” Johnson said.
Randy Cerveny, the president’s professor for the School of Geographical Sciences at Arizona State University, told Newsweek the cuts to NOAA staff weren’t “justified.”
“Such cuts will, unfortunately, lead to more weather-related deaths,” he said.
DOGE Cuts So Far
NOAA isn’t the only agency impacted by DOGE cuts.
Last week, it was reported that the Internal Revenue Service plans to lose about 18,000 employees—about 20 percent of its workforce. Meanwhile, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told Congress that 10,000 workers at the United States Postal Service would be cut within a month.
Last week, the Department of Education announced plans to lay off more than 1,300 employees, while the Department of Veterans Affairs is planning a reorganization that includes cutting 80,000 jobs, according to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press.
At least 24,000 probationary workers have been terminated since Trump took office, according to a lawsuit filed by nearly 20 states alleging the mass firings are illegal. Last week, two federal judges ordered 19 federal agencies to reinstate fired probationary workers.
What People Are Saying
A National Weather Service spokesperson told Newsweek: “We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”
Randy Cerveny, the president’s professor for the School of Geographical Sciences at Arizona State University, told Newsweek: “I had new young bright students—some of my top graduates of recent years—who were fired simply because they had not been employed for a year (‘probationary’), not for any specific shortcomings or actions on their part.
“Basically, these cuts are destroying the next generation of weather forecasters. So, short-term, our weather forecasting ability will be degraded because already forecast offices around the country are currently being short-shifted, and in the long-term, our weather forecasting ability will be significantly degraded as fewer students will be able—or want—to become meteorologists.”
AccuWeather Chief Executive Officer Steven R. Smith told Newsweek: “We understand that job losses can be incredibly difficult, and we sympathize with those in the meteorology community impacted by these staff reductions. Our sincere hope is that those affected will find new opportunities and fulfillment in their careers as soon as possible.”
He added: “We have no indication at this time that the changes at NOAA will impact the accuracy of AccuWeather’s forecasts and warnings. We remain committed to providing the highest levels of service to the public, the media, and our clients. We will continue to monitor and assess the situation.”
President Donald Trump, Sunday on Truth Social: “We are actively monitoring the severe tornadoes and storms that have impacted many States across the South and Midwest — 36 innocent lives have been lost, and many more devastated. The National Guard have been deployed to Arkansas, and my Administration is ready to assist State and Local Officials, as they help their communities to try and recover from the damage. Please join Melania and me in praying for everyone impacted by these terrible storms!”
Social media account PatriotTakes, Sunday on X (formerly Twitter): “Trump says his administration is ‘actively monitoring the severe tornadoes and storms’ that have already hit multiple states. These storms need to be monitored beforehand. Trump’s DOGE cut NOAA. People are now dead.”
What Happens Next
The full impact of the NOAA cuts remains unclear. It’s uncertain if other staff members who were laid off will be rehired.
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