The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has fired hundreds of weather forecasters and other employees on probationary status, according to lawmakers and weather experts. The layoffs, which were said to be in two rounds totaling 1,300 employees, amount to about 10% of NOAA’s workforce. The first round of cuts targeted probationary employees, including crucial meteorologists in National Weather Service offices across the country. The firings are part of efforts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to reduce the federal workforce that President Trump has deemed bloated.
Lawmakers, such as Rep. Grace Meng and Rep. Jared Huffman, have criticized the firings, stating that they will jeopardize American lives by reducing the number of dedicated employees working to save lives and property from natural disasters. Climate scientist Daniel Swain also condemned the job cuts, calling them short-sighted and warning that they will harm public safety and the economy in the face of weather and climate-related disasters.
The layoffs at NOAA highlight the ongoing debate over the size and efficiency of the federal workforce, with critics arguing that the reductions will have negative consequences for the country’s ability to respond to natural disasters and support public safety.
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