On February 28, 2025, significant layoffs occurred at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), impacting hundreds, particularly meteorologists responsible for local weather forecasts. Fired employees were mainly probationary, marking about 10% of NOAA's workforce. These cuts aligned with broader federal efforts pushed by Elon Musk and echoed claims of a bloated government by former President Trump. Legislative responses condemned the layoffs, highlighting concerns over public safety and the potential risks to disaster response services, with calls for accountability amidst the changes.
"The firings come amid efforts by billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to shrink a federal workforce that President Donald Trump has called bloated and sloppy."
"Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., released a statement saying: Today, hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including weather forecasters at the National Weather Service, were given termination notices for no good reason."
"These are dedicated, hardworking Americans whose efforts help save lives and property from the devastating impacts of natural disasters across the country."
"Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said on social media that the job cuts are spectacularly misguided and will have dire consequences for weather forecasting."
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