America is Unprepared for Hurricane Season: Restore Funding to NOAA and the NWS!

Due to recent cuts to NOAA and the NWS, America is underfunded, understaffed, and unprepared for the 2025 hurricane season. These actions have placed your constituents in danger! Soon after inauguration, the Trump administration disbanded the FEMA National Advisory Council. This inexplicably coincided with President Trump’s visits to disaster sites in North Carolina and Los Angeles. Weather-related destruction is not partisan – nor should our response be. When disaster strikes, we all bleed the same! More recently, the administration abruptly ended FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. This leaves states, especially those in coastal regions, more vulnerable and less able to prepare in the months ahead. At the same time, layoffs have left NWS satellite offices so understaffed that some can’t operate around the clock. In many areas, there is no one available to monitor or issue alerts during off hours – an alarming reality when storms strike at all times of the day and night. Former NWS Directors said it clearly in an open letter: “NWS issues all of the tornado warnings, hurricane warnings, flood warnings, extreme wildfire conditions, and other information during extreme weather events. The dedicated staff at weather forecast offices around the country work 24/7/365 to make sure [the American people] get that information.” But now their capacity is diminished. Staff shortages have also reduced weather balloon launches and limited data reconnaissance flights – both critical to accurate forecasting. Storm predictions and public warnings are already proving less reliable. As an elected official, this should deeply concern you. June 1 marked the official start of hurricane season, and NOAA forecasts at least three Category 3 (or stronger) storms. So, for the safety of your constituents, I urge you to demand full restoration of NOAA and NWS funding.