The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently undergoing significant staff reductions under the Trump administration, with around 800 employees targeted for termination. The layoffs, which began with probationary employees, are expected to affect various divisions of the agency, including scientists and specialists in weather, oceans, biodiversity, climate, and planetary monitoring fields.
One source revealed that more than a thousand employees could be impacted by the end of the week, raising concerns about the agency's ability to fulfill its critical mission of protecting lives and property. The National Weather Service, a key component of NOAA, has also been affected, with some employees in life-threatening disaster forecasting roles reportedly exempt from the layoffs.
