A Democrat legislator said that hundreds of scientists and experts were laid off by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a U.S. government agency in charge of weather forecasting and climate analysis as well as marine conservation.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is implementing sweeping cuts to federal employees- actions that critics say may go beyond legal authority.
In a press release, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said that hundreds of scientists and experts from NOAA had just heard the news that every federal employee has been dreading.
“Musk’s sham mission is bringing vital programs to a screeching halt. People nationwide depend on NOAA for free, accurate forecasts, severe weather alerts, and emergency information,” added Huffman, who is the second most powerful member of the House Natural Resources Committee.
“Removing scientists, experts and career civil servants from the government and cutting fundamental programs will cost people their lives.”
NOAA’s spokesperson said that the agency would not comment on personnel issues.
Theo Stein’s spokesman said: “We will continue to provide weather forecasts, warnings, and information under our mission of public safety.”
Environmentalists expressed concern over the move.
Trump has reappointed Neil Jacobs as the head of NOAA despite his involvement in the “Sharpiegate scandal” during Trump’s initial term.
Jacobs, the former head of the agency between 2018 and 2021, has been officially censured after he bowed to political pressure and misled the public regarding a hurricane prediction.
In 2019, controversy broke out when Trump falsely predicted that Hurricane Dorian was going to hit Alabama.
Trump doubled down after the National Weather Service corrected his mistake and displayed a doctored map of forecasts altered with a Sharpie. NOAA issued a statement defending Trump that was not signed, causing backlash. Jacobs was found guilty of his involvement by the official investigations.
