1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Hundreds of trained meteorologists and forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS) were recently terminated, seriously jeopardizing the agency's ability to provide timely and accurate weather predictions. This is deeply concerning given the recent devastating tornadoes across the Midwest and South, as well as the ongoing threat of wildfires and flooding in California. Reliable weather forecasting is crucial for protecting lives and property. The economic benefits provided by NWS forecasts vastly outweigh the costs, with estimates exceeding $100 billion annually – tenfold the taxpayer investment. To safeguard public safety and economic interests, it is imperative that Congress fully restores funding to rehire the expert personnel at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NWS. Adequate staffing and resources are vital for this essential public service.