Opinion: Cuts to NOAA threaten U.S. climate research and weather forecasting

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration faces mass layoffs and potential program shutdowns as the Trump administration moves to shrink its role in climate and weather science.

Adam Sobel writes for Yale Environment 360.

In short:

NOAA has already laid off around 1,000 employees and is being ordered to cut another 1,000, eliminating about 20% of its workforce, including staff at key research labs like the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.
The cuts appear linked to Project 2025, a policy plan supported by the Trump administration that views NOAA as part of a “climate alarm industry” and seeks to privatize weather forecasting services.
Longstanding research institutions, including the Mauna Loa Observatory and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, face uncertainty as funding and government support erode under the current administration.

Why this matters:

NOAA plays a central role in gathering and analyzing the data that underpins both daily weather forecasts and long-term climate projections. Its models support emergency services, agriculture, infrastructure planning, and global research collaborations. Slashing its staff and resources undermines both scientific capacity and public safety.

Privatization efforts may leave critical climate and weather data behind paywalls or vulnerable to political influence, weakening public access to science that affects everything from storm warnings to long-term planning for climate adaptation. NOAA’s work, rooted in Cold War military investments, is not fringe — it’s the foundation of modern environmental intelligence.

e360.yale.edu

Pair of rubber boots sitting in between rows of crops in a field

Credit: JSB Co./Unsplash+

As farm flooding increases, federal climate support evaporates

Federal staffing cuts, rescinded climate-focused conservation funds, and misaligned crop insurance are undermining farmers as extreme rainfall and flooding worsen across farm country. The shift is delaying on-the-ground help, sidelining resilience practices, and squeezing especially small, diversified operations.

Read the Full Article on

civileats.com

Opinion: Cuts to NOAA threaten U.S. climate research and weather forecasting

Lithium mining leaves severe impacts in Chile, but new methods exist

Reimagining agriculture to feed a growing population without fueling climate collapse

Tiny forests: The overlooked benefits of these miniature urban woodlands

Trump EPA cancels $250 million solar grant to Texas

Schools scramble to keep clean energy plans alive as federal tax credits disappear

‘We’ve done it before’: how not to lose hope in the fight against ecological disaster

As farm flooding increases, federal climate support evaporates

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.