In brief
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the leading agency for weather and climate science in the U.S., is reportedly preparing to lay off an additional 1,000 workers, following recent staff reductions. These cuts come as the Trump administration aims to downsize federal agencies, raising alarms about the agency's ability to provide lifesaving weather forecasts amid an approaching hurricane season. Scientists and meteorologists have voiced concerns that the current workforce, which has already lost about 1,300 staff members in recent weeks, may severely restrict crucial functions such as hurricane predictions and climate monitoring. This move underscores the precarious situation facing NOAA as it grapples with the implications of significant budget cuts mandated by the presidential executive order.
