SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
This visible image of Hurricane Maria was taken from NOAA's GOES East satellite on Sept. 18, 2017. (Photo: NASA/NOAA GOES Project)
Threatening the 'Warnings Upon Which the Country Depends,' Trump Budget Would Axe Nearly 250 Weather Forecasters
"We can't take any more cuts and still do the job that the American public needs us to do," says Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization
Feb 14, 2018
Among the agencies slated for deep cuts in President Donald Trump's "morally bankrupt" budget proposal is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The National Weather Service (NWS), which is part of the NOAA, faces a proposed 8 percent cut compared to 2017 levels, which would mean slashing 355 jobs, including those of 248 forecasters.
"The proposed NWS cuts are especially troubling given that the nation just saw its most expensive year for weather disasters on record." The proposal suggests (pdf) that the staff reduction will make "the agency more effective and efficient to protect lives and property," though it also notes that "Every day, NWS forecasters issue public, aviation, marine, fire weather, climate, space weather, river, and flood forecasts and warnings for the protection of life, property, and the enhancement of the national economy."
According to Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, "We can't take any more cuts and still do the job that the American public needs us to do--there simply will not be the staff available on duty to issue the forecasts and warnings upon which the country depends."
The budget proposal comes shortly after the NOAA said 2017 broke the record for costliest weather-related disasters.
"The proposed NWS cuts are especially troubling given that the nation just saw its most expensive year for weather disasters on record," said Bob Henson of Weather Underground. "The NWS forecasters I know are passionate about their jobs and dedicated to serving the public. They've also been stretched thin by understaffing. If we want a world-class weather service, we ought to fully fund it."
Among the other cuts the NWS are an $11 million hit to the agency's tsunami warning program and a $15 million cut in its surface and marine observations program.
Overall, the NOAA faces a 37 percent cut compared to 2017 levels--a level Ocean Conservancy's Addie Haughey described as "shocking."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Among the agencies slated for deep cuts in President Donald Trump's "morally bankrupt" budget proposal is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The National Weather Service (NWS), which is part of the NOAA, faces a proposed 8 percent cut compared to 2017 levels, which would mean slashing 355 jobs, including those of 248 forecasters.
"The proposed NWS cuts are especially troubling given that the nation just saw its most expensive year for weather disasters on record." The proposal suggests (pdf) that the staff reduction will make "the agency more effective and efficient to protect lives and property," though it also notes that "Every day, NWS forecasters issue public, aviation, marine, fire weather, climate, space weather, river, and flood forecasts and warnings for the protection of life, property, and the enhancement of the national economy."
According to Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, "We can't take any more cuts and still do the job that the American public needs us to do--there simply will not be the staff available on duty to issue the forecasts and warnings upon which the country depends."
The budget proposal comes shortly after the NOAA said 2017 broke the record for costliest weather-related disasters.
"The proposed NWS cuts are especially troubling given that the nation just saw its most expensive year for weather disasters on record," said Bob Henson of Weather Underground. "The NWS forecasters I know are passionate about their jobs and dedicated to serving the public. They've also been stretched thin by understaffing. If we want a world-class weather service, we ought to fully fund it."
Among the other cuts the NWS are an $11 million hit to the agency's tsunami warning program and a $15 million cut in its surface and marine observations program.
Overall, the NOAA faces a 37 percent cut compared to 2017 levels--a level Ocean Conservancy's Addie Haughey described as "shocking."
Among the agencies slated for deep cuts in President Donald Trump's "morally bankrupt" budget proposal is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The National Weather Service (NWS), which is part of the NOAA, faces a proposed 8 percent cut compared to 2017 levels, which would mean slashing 355 jobs, including those of 248 forecasters.
"The proposed NWS cuts are especially troubling given that the nation just saw its most expensive year for weather disasters on record." The proposal suggests (pdf) that the staff reduction will make "the agency more effective and efficient to protect lives and property," though it also notes that "Every day, NWS forecasters issue public, aviation, marine, fire weather, climate, space weather, river, and flood forecasts and warnings for the protection of life, property, and the enhancement of the national economy."
According to Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, "We can't take any more cuts and still do the job that the American public needs us to do--there simply will not be the staff available on duty to issue the forecasts and warnings upon which the country depends."
The budget proposal comes shortly after the NOAA said 2017 broke the record for costliest weather-related disasters.
"The proposed NWS cuts are especially troubling given that the nation just saw its most expensive year for weather disasters on record," said Bob Henson of Weather Underground. "The NWS forecasters I know are passionate about their jobs and dedicated to serving the public. They've also been stretched thin by understaffing. If we want a world-class weather service, we ought to fully fund it."
Among the other cuts the NWS are an $11 million hit to the agency's tsunami warning program and a $15 million cut in its surface and marine observations program.
Overall, the NOAA faces a 37 percent cut compared to 2017 levels--a level Ocean Conservancy's Addie Haughey described as "shocking."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy