Weather service staff reductions may potentially result in increased fatalities during harsh weather conditions, according to past NWS leaders' warnings.
In a chilling warning, five former directors of the National Weather Service (NWS) have urged against further staff cuts, stating it could lead to unfortunate consequences, especially during emergencies such as tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes.
In an open letter published last Friday, these seasoned experts shared their concerns about potential loss of life due to understaffing. They have served at the NWS between 1988 and 2022, and they believe the current situation reflects a shared nightmare for those on the front lines of forecasting and for the people who rely on their predictions.
The letter points out that the NWS's staffing has been reduced by more than 10% during the busiest time for severe storm predictions, due to the Trump administration's cuts to probationary workers and personnel reductions through buyouts[1]. They are also concerned about the Trump administration's budget request for the next fiscal year, which outlines a proposed $1.52 billion cut for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the NWS's parent agency[1].
"NWS staff will have an impossible task to continue its current level of services," they wrote, if further cuts are implemented. "Some forecast offices will be so short-staffed that they may be forced to go to part-time services."
This outcry against cuts at the weather service, and the NOAA more broadly, highlights the agencies as a political pressure point as the Trump administration strives to curtail the size of government[1]. Meteorologists maintain that the cuts to NWS staffing have led to less effective forecasts, which has spurred bipartisan backlash in Plains states where severe weather takes a heavy toll.
The letter, signed by the former directors Louis Uccellini, Jack Hayes, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. D.L. Johnson, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. John J. Kelly Jr., U.S. Air Force Col. E.W. (Joe) Friday, emphasizes their firsthand knowledge of what it takes to make accurate forecasts and their unified stance against the loss of staff and resources at NWS, expressing deep concern about the overall health of NOAA[1].
The NWS has remained tight-lipped about the internal personnel and management matters. However, it has acknowledged grappling with staffing concerns[1]. Their statement emphasized their commitment to providing weather information, forecasts, and warnings in line with its public safety mission.
Nevertheless, the absence of staff means that critical services such as weather balloon launches have been cancelled, which could have severe consequences like delayed tornado detection[1]. In Nebraska, a staffing shortage at the weather service's office in Valley near Omaha led to the cancellation of a routine 7 p.m. weather balloon launch on April 17th. This decision could have hindered forecasters from identifying the risk of tornadoes sooner, leading to six tornadoes tracking across eastern Nebraska[1].
Congressional Republican, Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska, has taken action to address this issue, successfully advocating for temporary staffing reassignment at the Valley office[1]. He also plans to introduce legislation to classify forecasters as public safety workers, which could shield them from federal buyouts and other staff-reducing policies[1].
Similar challenges are being faced across the nation, prompting experts like Rick Spinrad, former NOAA administrator under then-President Joe Biden, to assert that the NWS is not a bloated target for budget cuts and deserves support[1]. They stress that safeguarding the NWS is an investment in public safety and lives.
- The federal budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is likely to be reduced by $1.52 billion, according to the Trump administration's budget request for the next fiscal year, which may lead to reorganizations at the NOAA and its subsidiaries, including the National Weather Service (NWS).
- In an open letter, five former NWS directors have warned against further funding cuts, stating that it could lead to cancellations of critical services such as weather balloon launches, resulting in delayed tornado detection and potential loss of life.
- The experts, who served at the NWS between 1988 and 2022, emphasize their unified stance against the loss of staff and resources at NWS, expressing deep concern about the overall health of NOAA and the impact on health-and-wellness, medical-conditions, climate-change, and environmental-science.
- Congressional Representative Mike Flood of Nebraska has taken action to address the staffing crisis at NWS, successfully advocating for temporary staffing reassignment at the Valley office and planning to introduce legislation to classify forecasters as public safety workers, possibly shielding them from federal buyouts and other staff-reducing policies.
- Experts like Rick Spinrad, former NOAA administrator under then-President Joe Biden, assert that the NWS is not a bloated target for budget cuts and deserves support, stressing that safeguarding the NWS is an investment in public safety and lives.
