Federal workers who were not let go said the afternoon layoffs included meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts in National Weather Service offices across the U.S.
Summary
Hundreds of NOAA employees, including National Weather Service meteorologists, were fired Thursday as part of Elon Musk’s cuts to the federal workforce under Trump.
The layoffs, affecting up to 10% of NOAA’s workforce, targeted probationary employees.
Lawmakers and experts condemned the cuts, warning they will jeopardize public safety and disaster preparedness.
Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) called the firings “unconscionable,” while climate scientists warned they would weaken the country’s ability to respond to extreme weather and climate disasters.
The next hurricane season might have just gotten very interesting. Nobody will tell the good people on Florida or Texas about all that nasty climate change, or the hurricanes that will come because the Hottub of America (formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico) will turboboost more smaller storms to nasty little category 5s. No annoying evac orders! Hurray! Americans just take things as they come!