Budget and staffing cuts proposed by the Trump administration could significantly undermine the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a key player in climate monitoring and weather forecasting. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has raised alarms about the potential impacts of these cuts, warning that they threaten global efforts to accurately track climate change and predict extreme weather events.
ECMWF Director General Florence Rabier emphasized that the quality and quantity of climate observations provided by NOAA have already started to decline. Since March 2025, the U.S. has seen a roughly 10 percent decrease in observations shared from weather balloons, which are vital for collecting data on temperature, humidity, and wind patterns. Rabier stated, "What we've seen since March is that there has been a drop in the number of observations delivered by NOAA due to funding cuts." This decline in data could hinder scientists' ability to monitor climate change effectively.
Under the proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year, NOAA's overall funding could be slashed from $6.1 billion to about $4.5 billion. This reduction includes a staggering 74 percent cut to the agency's climate research budget. If approved, the proposed budget would eliminate NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, which is responsible for much of the agency's climate, ocean, and atmospheric science work. According to a White House document, the administration aims to create a "leaner NOAA" that focuses on core operational needs while terminating nonessential grant programs and activities deemed unnecessary for federal oversight.
Critics of the cuts, including Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), have expressed grave concerns about the implications for public safety and environmental management. Huffman stated, "This proposal is a five-alarm fire for anyone who values public safety, coastal resilience, and the foundational science that underpins our nation’s weather forecasts, fisheries, and climate response." He warned that the cuts would severely impair NOAA's ability to forecast hurricanes, manage fisheries, and support coastal communities facing rising sea levels and extreme storms.
Moreover, the budget proposal also seeks to cut $324.5 million from NOAA's National Marine and Fisheries Service division, which plays a crucial role in monitoring and protecting marine ecosystems. Under the plan, NOAA's fisheries should prioritize permitting and consultation activities aligned with the administration's energy goals, potentially sidelining important environmental considerations.
The proposed budget would eliminate funding for NOAA's six regional climate centers, which provide critical environmental data tailored to specific regions across the U.S. These centers are essential for understanding local climate hazards, including droughts and floods. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, highlighted the importance of ongoing public investment in climate research, stating, "The majority of advances in weather and climate science since the 1950s were made because of public investment specifically in the United States by federal agencies, including NOAA."
As the budget proposal awaits Congressional review, NOAA has until April 24, 2025, to respond. The 2026 fiscal year budget is expected to be presented to Congress in May, but the administration's priorities may not align with those of lawmakers. Congress must pass a budget by the end of September 2025 to avoid a potential government shutdown.
Former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad previously warned that staffing cuts would have immediate consequences, stating, "These terminations are consequential, and we will see an immediate impact on NOAA's ability to deliver critical services to American individuals, corporations, and communities." The proposed cuts could further shrink NOAA's role in global climate science, impairing forecast accuracy and disrupting international climate data exchange.
As the climate crisis intensifies, the ramifications of these budget cuts could be far-reaching. The ability to monitor environmental trends and prepare for severe weather events is crucial for communities across the nation. The potential loss of funding for NOAA's research and education programs threatens not only scientific advancement but also public safety and environmental stewardship.
As the situation unfolds, stakeholders in the scientific community and environmental advocacy groups are closely monitoring the developments. The outcome of the budget proposal could reshape the landscape of climate research and weather forecasting in the United States for years to come.
In summary, the Trump administration's proposed budget cuts to NOAA signal a troubling trend that could jeopardize decades of progress in weather and climate science. As the nation grapples with increasingly severe weather patterns and climate-related challenges, the need for robust scientific research and data becomes ever more critical.
