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In a significant reversal, the Trump administration is planning to restore hundreds of staffing positions at the National Weather Service (NWS) that were eliminated earlier this year under sweeping budget cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees the NWS, has received permission to fill 450 critical roles — including meteorologists, hydrologists, and radar technicians — according to a bipartisan announcement Thursday by Reps. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) and Mike Flood (R-Neb.).
The decision follows a summer marked by extreme and deadly weather events — most notably the catastrophic Texas floods that killed more than 130 people — and mounting political pressure from both Democrats and Republicans to address what many called a dangerous hollowing-out of the country’s weather forecasting infrastructure.
“This is overdue news,” Sorensen and Flood said in a joint statement. “The NWS is vital to public safety, and these unfilled positions have strained staff, jeopardized timely forecasts, and left communities vulnerable.”
From Pink Slips to Pressure
Earlier this year, the Trump administration’s DOGE-led cost-cutting campaign triggered a wave of layoffs across federal agencies. NOAA and NWS were particularly hard hit: On February 27, the Commerce Department fired over 600 probationary employees at NOAA, including hurricane hunters, storm modelers, and veteran forecasters.
The backlash was swift. Five former NWS directors warned that the staffing reductions could lead to “needless loss of life.” Offices were forced to cancel routine weather balloon launches, reduce overnight coverage, and burden the remaining workforce with unsustainable schedules.
“We were told to do more with less, but when lives are on the line, that’s not acceptable,” a NOAA official told NBC News on condition of anonymity. “The Texas disaster proved it. We need front-line staff back — yesterday.”
Legislative Push
Sorensen and Flood have co-sponsored the Weather Workforce Improvement Act, which would classify NWS roles as critical public safety positions and shield employees from future cuts or early retirements. The legislation has been introduced in the House but has not yet received a vote.
“Hundreds of unfilled positions have caused NWS offices across the country to cancel weather balloon launches, forgo overnight staffing, and force remaining meteorologists to overwork themselves,” Sorensen said. “We need to ensure these new hires are protected from future cuts.”
Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) also welcomed the administration’s reversal, joining a growing number of Republicans who have publicly expressed regret over the earlier DOGE-led austerity measures.
Rebuilding Will Take Time
Despite the green light to rehire, a NOAA official cautioned that it may take months to fill the vacancies, due to the federal hiring process and continued uncertainty about long-term funding. As of this week, only nine NOAA positions were publicly listed on USAJobs.gov.
The National Weather Service itself declined to comment.
Still, for lawmakers and forecasters who warned of dire consequences, the reversal is a relief — and a reminder of the high stakes of climate-era governance.
