National Weather Service Faces Staffing Cuts, Reduced Forecasts Amid Trump Budget Changes

Federal staffing cuts under the Trump administration are significantly impacting the National Weather Service (NWS) and related NOAA agencies, leading to degraded weather forecasting and reduced public services. Offices like NWS Sacramento are now operating with critically reduced staffing, causing less frequent updates to key weather alerts and limiting overnight operations, while relying on neighboring offices for support during major events. The agency has announced it may further reduce or suspend the launch of weather balloons at several sites, decreasing the amount of upper-atmosphere data critical for forecasts. At NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, essential research and monitoring functions have been crippled due to staff reductions and halted contracts, affecting algal bloom monitoring and shoreline mapping. Internal documents and union agreements confirm these measures are part of a broader federal effort to shrink government agencies, with hundreds of NOAA employees already departing and more expected to leave. Scientists and staff warn that these cuts are resulting in a degradation of forecasting capabilities, which could have serious consequences for public safety and environmental monitoring.