Key facts
- NOAA has lost roughly 20% of its staff since January 2025.
- Hundreds of meteorological and technical positions are vacant across 122 forecast offices.
- More than 3,000 NOAA staffers have left since January 2025, the largest drop in a decade.
- Public affairs teams were roughly halved, and IT management workers reduced by 27%.
- About 10% fewer meteorologists and technicians were available as of autumn 2026.
- Staffing limitations have led to delayed weather balloon launches and limited tornado warnings.
Sweeping cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under Donald Trump have severely hampered the US's capacity to forecast, research, and respond to extreme weather events, according to former officials and scientists. The agency, which has lost roughly 20% of its staff since January 2025, is facing a challenging winter with a potentially historic El Niño fueling extreme weather across the country. The National Weather Service, part of NOAA, has also seen staff shortages, leading to delayed data collection and reduced operating hours. Experts warn that the system has not been adequately tested since the cuts, raising concerns about the nation's ability to handle potential coast-to-coast extremes. NOAA plays a crucial role in public safety, providing forecasts for industries like agriculture and supporting emergency response preparations for hurricanes and fires. The agency also operates early warning systems for tsunamis and monitors ocean data for safe shipping. These impacts are expected to be felt globally as other nations rely on NOAA's data and intelligence.