US NOAA Stops Tracking Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters Amid Budget Cuts

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced it will stop updating its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, which tracks U.S. weather and climate disasters causing damages of at least $1 billion. This decision, part of deep budget cuts and shifting priorities under the Trump administration, means vital data on costly events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts will no longer be updated beyond 2024, although historical data will remain archived. From 1980 to 2024, the United States experienced 403 such disasters with cumulative damages exceeding $2.9 trillion, with an increasing trend linked to climate destabilization from fossil fuel emissions. Critics argue that halting this tracking will hinder researchers, policymakers, and insurance firms from understanding disaster trends and making informed decisions, effectively leaving Americans less prepared for climate-related events. The move aligns with the administration's broader agenda, including withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement and reducing funding for climate science, which opponents say prioritizes fossil fuel interests over public safety. NOAA stated the change reflects evolving mandates and staffing changes, but the decision has sparked widespread disapproval among researchers and climate advocates.