Reinstate NOAA staff, protect public safety and environment

NOAA employees working as scientists and meteorologists are vital to protecting public safety through accurate weather forecasting and monitoring climate change. The recent layoffs of 880 NOAA staff, including some meteorologists, represent a dangerous reduction in the agency's scientific expertise. This will hinder NOAA's ability to effectively forecast severe weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, putting communities at risk. Weather forecasts are also critical to support our farmers. As Sen. Cantwell stated, these job cuts "jeopardize our ability to forecast and respond to extreme weather events...putting communities in harm's way." Furthermore, the loss of marine scientists threatens oversight of commercial and recreational fisheries that support 1.7 million U.S. jobs and a significant portion of the nation's GDP. I urge you to take action to reinstate these dedicated public servants and fully fund NOAA to preserve its critical scientific work that safeguards American lives and livelihoods. Undermining NOAA's capabilities through workforce cuts is extremely shortsighted and hazardous.