Trump selects nominee to oversee NOAA, promising to reinforce weather service workforce
Neil Jacobs, President Trump's nominee for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has pledged to prioritize staffing the National Weather Service (NWS) if confirmed.
In a recent Senate hearing, Jacobs emphasized the importance of having staff members in local communities for the NWS due to their relationships and trust with the community. He acknowledged that staffing has been difficult due to the hiring freeze and competition from the private sector.
If confirmed, Jacobs supports President Trump's proposal to cut NOAA's budget by 27% in fiscal 2026, with funding being refocused from research to operations. However, he plans to appeal to potential employees' sense of mission to recruit staff for the NWS. He also pledged to examine staffing needs in other areas of NOAA, including enforcement of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The NWS has faced criticism due to staffing cuts, particularly in relation to a recent flooding event in Central Texas that resulted in over 100 deaths. The agency has lost 1,875 employees and currently has 3,000 vacancies under Trump's administration. The Commerce Department's inspector general is currently reviewing a request to investigate the impacts of staffing cuts on the crisis in Texas.
Jacobs also addressed concerns about the government hiring freeze, which affects some positions within the agency. He told lawmakers he would not push out false information if faced with political pressure in the future, as was the case in the "Sharpiegate" scandal involving Trump's false claims about Hurricane Dorian's path in 2019, during Jacobs' previous service at NOAA.
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., disagrees with a proposed 27% budget cut for NOAA, stating it would have an impact on weather readiness. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., noted the agency is severely understaffed in its enforcement of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Some ships from NOAA's research fleet will remain docked this year due to staffing issues. Jacobs stated he would not support consolidation of NWS forecasters and instead advocate for them to be more embedded in the community. He plans to address staffing shortages by improving recruitment strategies, enhancing employee retention programs, and investing in training and development.
As the confirmation process continues, Jacobs' commitment to addressing staffing issues at the NWS and the NWS's crucial role in weather forecasting and disaster preparedness remains a topic of discussion.
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