The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is crucial to delivering free weather information to the United States, and over 800 of their employees were just fired by the Trump administration. Four NOAA expert advisory committees are being disbanded as well. There are also reports that the Trump administration is considering terminating the leases on buildings and properties where vital weather reports and fishery data is generated. The weather forecasts generated by NOAA are thought to reach about 96% of Americans, and they are vital to a variety of industries. Depending on conditions, weather information can be critical and life-saving, according to experts.
Admiral Tim Gallaudet, who was appointed to lead NOAA by the first Trump administration, told the Associated Press that these firings will "affect safety of flight, safety of shipping, safety of everyday Americans. Lives are at risk for sure.”
Craig McLean, a former NOAA official, told NPR that if the NOAA property leases were terminated, it would be "remarkably stupid."
"Loss of an entire facility would hamper our ability to do our jobs, predict the weather properly, help protect people and property," said a weather contractor who spoke with NPR on condition of anonymity.
This massive upheaval is also happening as the nation enters a volatile period of weather, with tornado season about to affect certain areas. That will be followed by hurricane season in the South and wildfire season, which is impacting more and more areas for lengthier periods.
The American Meteorological Society has also released a statement about the weather forecasting work that is done for Americans at NOAA.
"U.S. leadership in scientific innovation is at risk due to the recent and ongoing reductions in U.S. federal science capabilities. The consequences to the American people will be large and wide-ranging, including increased vulnerability to hazardous weather," the statement began.
The statement emphasized that the weather enterprise is a partnership and involves multiple groups including academics, non-governmental organizations, private companies, and public services. The workers that are federally employed scientists are crucial to this enterprise, and NOAA is a "vital partner."
"Estimates of the value of weather and climate information to the U.S. economy exceed $100 billion annually, roughly 10 times the investment made by U.S. taxpayers through the federal agencies involved in weather-related science and services. It is an internationally recognized and highly respected means of multiplying value and benefits to the American people," the statement added.
"Recent terminations within the government workforce for science are likely to cause irreparable harm and have far-reaching consequences for public safety, economic well-being, and the United States' global leadership."
Read more of the statement here.
Thousands of climate-related web pages have also been deleted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) website by the Trump administration.
Now, famers won't be able to access data about droughts and floods, during a time when these events are intensifying. A group of environmental and farming groups is now suing in an attempt to have that information restored, alleging that its removal was reckless and illegal.
These actions come as multiple science and other federal agencies experience serious blows to their budgets, and are confronted with orders to fire huge numbers of employees by the Trump administration. Some are confronting those orders with lawsuits.
Sources: American Meteorological Society, AP News, USA Today, Inside Climate News, NPR
